The next ten days will be a bonanza of art, craft, music, heritage and adventure for tourists and local connoisseurs in Madhya Pradesh as the prestigious Mandu Festival, Hriday Drishyam Folk Art Festival, and Sky Diving festival will be on offer.
Mandu Festival – which offers a variety of art, craft, heritage and adventure activities - will be held at the popular historic hill fort town of Mandu in Dhar district from January 7 to 11, the Hriday Drishyam Folk Art Festival will be held in capital Bhopal from January 8-10 and in Indore from January 7-12, while the adventure-laden Skydiving Festival in Ujjain will be held from January 5 to 15, Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture Sheo Shekhar Shukla said in a press conference.
Shukla, also managing director of the MP Tourism Board, said that events this year are special because dignitaries from all over the world will be present in Madhya Pradesh under Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, Global Investors Meet and G-20 summit.
Tent city
Shukla said that along with the 5-days of activities under the fourth edition of Mandu festival, one of the biggest attractions will be a 90-days tent city that will come alive in the heritage town.
Some of the major activities to be organised during the fest include live music concert, cycling tour, adventure sports and activities, art and culture exhibitions, light and sound shows, rural tourism, yoga and meditation sessions, heritage walk and performance of traditional folk dance and music by local artistes.
Tourists can also experience the wonderful and overwhelming panoramic view of Mandu city from a bird's eye view from a hot air balloon ride organised in collaboration with E-Factor Entertainment organisation. Jai Thakur, COO and co-founder, E-Factor Entertainment, said that Mandu Festival will have something special in store for everyone.
Skydiving fest at Ujjain
The second edition of Skydiving Festival will start on January 5 at Datana Airstrip in Ujjain. The Sky Diving Festival, started by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board with the aim of promoting adventure tourism in the state, will conclude on January 15. This activity is being conducted by the DGCA and USPA certified organization Sky-High India, Shukla said. He added that the activity will be conducted with the help of high-standard trained personnel and participants will be able to experience the thrill of seeing the city of Mahakal from a height of 10,000 feet.
Hriday Drishyam folk art fest
The sixth edition of mega music feast in Madhya Pradesh, the Hriday Drishyam Lok Kala Utsav, to be co-organised by the MP Tourism Board, will see the participation of regional, national and international level artists, Shukla said.
Artists from different countries like Japan, United States of America, Sweden and Spain are expected to participate this year. The festival also showcases local talent from Bhopal.
It will be held in Bhopal from January 8 to January 10 at the Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Center, Bharat Bhavan and Rabindra Bhavan. Various cultural and picturesque performances will take place at Lal Bagh Palace in Indore from January 7 to January 12.
In Indore, a stall will also be set up to inform foreign guests about Indian culture, cuisine, art and literature. Singer Joe Alvares will be the curator of the program and renowned artists from India and abroad will give their performances. Admission to all programmes will be free.
