NEW DELHI, FEB 10: Sundays will never be the same again. Artists will paint and sell their paintings at the Nehru Park, musicians will perform at the Lodhi Gardens and open cafes will spring up in Connaught Place.The New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) latest venture to promote art and culture will unleash a veritable bonanza for Delhiites every Sunday from February 14.B P Misra, NDMC Chairman, said: ``We shall begin with a concert by Pandit Rajan and Sajan Misra in the Lodhi Gardens this Sunday at 8.30 am. This will be the first concert in our `Morning Ragas' series, wherein, eminent musicians will perform in the city once a month. Since our aim is to make art accessible to the common man, we shall not charge any entry fee.''A permanent corner will be created for painters and sculptors, at the Nehru Park. Artists will paint and sculpt there every Sunday from February 28 and Delhiites can not only pick a tip or two but can even buy their work. Misra said that several eminent scupltors had alreadyagreed to donate some of their works and it would be put on permanent display in some of the parks and roundabouts.The usually deserted look that Connaught Place wears on Sundays will be replaced by roadside food stalls and shows in the Central Park. Misra said: ``The restaurants in the inner circle will serve food and provide seating arrangements in the parking lots on Sundays from February 21. In winters they will set up food stalls in the afternoons and in summers the stalls will be set up in the evenings. Entry of vehicles will be prohibited in the inner circle and visitors will have to park their vehicles in the outer circle, middle circle or the underground Palika parking. Cultural activities like folk dances and recitals will be staged in the Central Park.'' Restaurant owners in the inner circle have formed a committee to tackle the teething problems. Sunil Malhotra of Embassy Restaurant says: ``So far 11 restaurants from the inner circle are participating in this event. Though there isenthusiasm, we also realise that this is an experiment and can turn out any way. Restaurant owners from the outer circle are not participating because of operational difficulties, but if this picks up then I am sure that they will also join in.''Promising to make it a regular feature, Misra said that they would draw a three-month calendar of events in advance and publicise them so that Delhiites could participate. ``In all other countries, the state plays an active role in promoting art and culture. We are also doing the same and this will not affect our civic functions in the least. We have also set an advisory committee, comprising eminent artists and critics to ensure that this initiative continues on a regular basis.'']Even those who go to the Lodhi Gardens everyday for their morning walk, the ragas are a welcome break. Says Jagmohan Luthra, one of them: ``It would be very enjoyable, but it would have been better if they moved the time schedule up by another hour-and-a-half. This way, those who comefor a walk can also enjoy the concert.''
