European culture isnt as far as Europe anymore. Its Delhi lovers had a busy week at the recently-concluded EU Sanskriti Festival 2011. Organised by the European Union in association with the National School of Drama,this gave a glimpse of Europe and was held at venues across Delhi,including India International Centre and NSD Abhimanch Theatre. A series of events serenaded us from Slovenian theatre to Lithuanian folk dance,contemporary dance from Netherlands to a juggling performance from Luxembourg. It is one of the biggest and most important initiatives taken by the EU countries in the cultural front in India, says Pavel Svitil,Charge dAffaires of the EU delegation in India. The festival kick-started with a Polish puppet performance. On day two,Swedish classic Pippi Longstocking was narrated to children in the traditional storytelling manner. Dante Alighieris Inferno was staged with a contemporary twist by the Slovenian theatre group Carpe Diem the following day. Coinciding with Childrens day on November 14,the festival had something for the kids too. Under the banner of the EU Sanskriti Kids Mela,childrens films from over 12 European countries were screened in cities across India,including Delhi,Guwahati,Kolkata and Chennai.
