LITHUANIAN MANDALA IN INDIA
Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in the Republic of India presents to the Indian art lovers the unique modern art project „Mandala. Temple of Flowers“. It will be part of the Delhi International Arts Festival between October 31 to November 3 and will also be presented in Kolkata on November 6.
On stage the artists will be presenting a live colourful circle of artificial flowers made with their own hands. Mandala is a truly Indian concept, but here it would become a sort of Nordic Mandala made of wool felted flowers. Wool felting is traditional craft of Lithuania with its cold winters requiring lots of woolens to protect against freezing temperatures. The artists have felted thousands of woolen flowers out of which they will create the diagram of the Universe and blend themselves into it – all in front of the spectators!
Another important element is the dancers. In the temple of flowers they will be paralelly creating the Universe through their movements based in classical Indian and Pagan Lithuanian dance traditions. In fact ancient concept of Vaidilute – Maiden Priestesses and Guardians of Temples resembles closely the Devadasi tradition of Indian temple, so another subtext of the event is about the universal principle of the Female Creative principle cutting through different cultures.
The project is unique in several ways – a perfect combination of Indian and Lithuanian concepts of world, ways of expression, a blend of several arts – textiles, music, dance – all to testify the greatness of Art, of universal Cosmic Vision, Oneness of body and soul, movement and silence.
Mandala project was conceived as a special tribute to commemorate 20 years of diplomatic relations between India and Lithuania, two countries related culturally and linguistically. Lithuania is known as the country of not only thousands of natural lakes and rivers, exquisite barrocco architecture, but also as the lore of ancient Pre-Christian traditions reminding of the Vedic India‘s past. Lithuanian language is the closest living sister language of Sanskrit.
Mandala has been sponsored by the Lithuanian Culture Foundation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, and cosponsored by the ICCR, India.
Timings and Venues:
October 31, 7 pm., Baha‘i Auditorium, New Delhi (Delhi International Arts Festival www.diaf.in)
November 1, 5 pm., India Gate, New Delhi (Delhi International Arts Festival www.diaf.in)
November 2, 6 pm., Select Citywalk Plaza, New Delhi (Delhi International Arts Festival, www.diaf.in)
November 3, 8 pm., Buddha the Zorba, New Delhi (Delhi International Arts Festival, www.diaf.in)
November 6, 7 pm. Rabindranath Tagore Centre (Abanindranath Tagore Gallery), Kolkata (www.tagorecentreiccr.org)
For more information – contact the Embassy of Lithuania in New Delhi: ph. (011) 43132200, email: amb.in@urm.lt
Press Release
12-10-2012
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