Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Information Centre
New Delhi, September 13:
Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni and president of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Sunil Bharti Mittal invited Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh to have his distinguished presence at the inaugural ceremony of the �Incredible India @ 60: Cherishing Democracy and Celebrating Diversity� Festival in New York from September 23-26, 2007 to mark 60 years of India�s independence.
The Ministries of Tourism, Culture Textiles, Commerce, and Overseas Indian Affairs jointly are organizing the grand event.
Union Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the festival at the Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Centre, New York on September 23 at 5.30 pm.
It will be followed by a one-hour exciting specially choreographed production of classical dances of India entitled � �Drums of India� consisting of Kathakali & Theyyam, Odissi, Kathak, Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi and Manipuri.
The main objective of the festival is to provide a complete experience of an eternal India, featuring the finest aspects of Indian art, culture, handicrafts, cuisine and fashion as well as to project the emerging and dynamic face of India of the 21st Century.
Manipur�s Thang-Ta, Dhol Cholom, Pung Cholom and Holi Pala; Assam�s Magh Bihu, Begrumba, Nagaland�s Choral song and chanting; Mizoram�s Cheraw and Sikkim�s Singhi Cham will feature in the Indian Folk Dance and Music events to be held daily at Bryant Park and South Street Seaport during the festival.
One-hour music and dance presentation from the NE States of India entitled ��Octave� will be among the cultural events.
Ministry of the Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) in association with the Confederation of Indian industry is organizing a North East India Investment Conference on September 26 at 9.30 am at the Manhattan Ballroom of the Hotel Grand Hyatt, New York to coincide with the Incredible India @ 60 event.
The objective of the Conference would be to provide information on investment opportunities in the North Eastern States of India and facilities interactions of the eight States located in the region that will be present at the conference.
The Chairman of CII North East Council Dipankar Chatterji stated that North Eastern India has rich natural resources including minerals, oil, coal and agro resources and tremendous opportunities to develop tourism and infrastructure.