Delhi to go festive during Commonwealth Games

Delhi will showcase India's diverse culture, music, dance and theatre in a carnival atmosphere with plenty of food thrown in during the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games. Eight thousand athletes, officials from 71 countries and nearly 100,000 visitors are expected to throng the metropolis during the event.

"The Games are coinciding with the festival season and we are planning a whole lot of programmes. It will be a gala time with fun and frolic for the visitors as well as Delhiites," Rina Ray, Delhi's secretary for art and culture, told IANS.

There will be a devotional music festival at Talkatora stadium, sufi music Jahan-e-Khusrau at Humayun's Tomb, folk dances at Roshanara Park and classical music at Kamani auditorium.

Then there are theatre festivals at different locations, some out in the open. For the emerging artistes, Central Park in Connaught Place is the stage, while there will be something or other going on daily at Dilli Haat (INA market and Pitampura). The union culture ministry has also lined up several programmes. The presence of film stars will be an added attraction.

Social organisations and NGOs will be involved in providing entertainment for the poor.

"We are in the process of tying up with various NGOs so that no category of people is left out. We don't want it to be an elitist event. We want everyone to be part of the celebrations attached to the Games. We are trying to reach out to people in resettlement colonies," she added.

Most of the programmes are open to all, but there will be designated places for visitors with accreditation.

The government wants private sector participation in as many programmes as possible so that promotional activities get a fillip. Malls around the city will also be encouraged to come up with their own programmes.

Ray said the blueprint of the programmes is more or less ready and work on various projects will start soon.