BPTA Festival-2021 kick starts with rare convergence of Indian-Irish traditions

Chandigarh, October 30, 2021: A literary potpourri was exhibited at Macèdoine, A Medley BPTA(Books, Poetry, Theatre & Arts) Festival-2021,  a virtual festival in which a galaxy of luminaries from the world of art and literature from two nations -India & Ireland participated on the opening  day. The two day BPTA Festival-2021 will conclude on October 31. The festival commenced with the address of Ambassadors of the Irish and Indian Embassies – Brendan Ward and Akhilesh Mishra respectively.
 
“The festival is being organised virtually in its first edition due to COVID restrictions but we will endeavour to organise it in the traditional form with one-on-one in person interactions from next year onwards. The idea is to make the BPTA an annual calendar event to showcase to the world India' and Ireland's rich cultural and artistic legacy." said Nisha Luthra, Founder Director, BPTA.
 
The renowned Irish poet and diplomat Emer Davis, is BPTA's Festival Director.
 
Sharing his thoughts about the festival, Irish Ambassador Brendan Ward said that two countries share a rich cultural, literary and artistic legacy, which needs to be preserved and taken to the next level of excellence and acceptance among new generations as well. “BPTA Festival-2021 will prove a milestone in that direction,” added Ward.
 
“India and Ireland both have extremely rich traditions of literature and poetry, which provides us a valuable foundation on which to build a broader and people centric and people led dialogue, and exchange for enhancing mutual understanding and enrichment,” Said Akhilesh Mishra, India's Ambassador to Ireland.
 
“The virtual festival is an amalgamation of books, poetry, theatre and arts from both the countries. A tap dance from an Irish group will also be performed. A lot more is happening to mark the celebration at BPTA Festival-2021,” added Nisha Luthra, Founder Director, Macèdoine A Medley BPTA Festival-2021.
 
The first day of the  BPTA Festival-2021 saw Indian diplomat Akhilesh Mishra in a live chat with Emer Davis and Nisha Luthra, discussing different facets of Indian-Irish literary and cultural traditions. There was a book cover launch of a book by famous Irish writer of historical fiction Nicola Pierce by Vivek Atray, a former IAS officer and motivational speaker. The others who participated on the inaugural day deliberations of BPTA Festival-2021 were Anna Tannon, Sumita Mishra, Sanjay K Roy, Pat Boan, Latif Khan, Mariana Clack, Fiona, Srilata, and Yameema Mitha. The first day of BPTA Festival-2021 ended with a tap dance by Irish artists.
 
Sumita Mishra, a serving IAS officer and poet, recited the poems of Rabindranath Tagore and WB Yeats. Irish poet Fiona too recited a piece. Fióna, a poet, writer and facilitator who has lived mainly in Ireland and India, and Srilata were in a chat with Emer and Nisha. Latif Khan and his Group regaled the audience with Rajasthani folk music , Qawwalis & Sufi music. Sanjoy K Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, which produces over 25 highly acclaimed performing arts, visual arts and literary festivals across 40 cities including the world, shared his thoughts through a recorded video.
                                                              
The concluding day of the festival also has a lot packed in. The highlight will be a performance by renowned Bharatanatyam proponent Revantha Sarabhai who is famous Indian classical dancer Mallika Sarabhai's son. Kutle Khan's performance is also being looked forward to along with Fauzia Dastango and Danish Iqbal's live performance of dastangoi - an art of story-telling. Author Jupinderjit Singh's upcoming book's cover will also be unveiled by President of Griffith College, Duirmuid Heagrty.