Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), under the aegis of Indian embassy, held a spectacular cultural show at the Qatar National Convention Centre on Friday to highlight the cultural heritage of India.
Featuring about 350 artistes from among the country's Indian expatriates, ‘Bharat Utsav - A Journey through Festive Celebrations of India' highlighted the rich and varied culture of India and showcased the talents of budding artistes from the community. 
Music and dance performances reminded the audience of the noble traditions of the country. The programme featured an array of festivities and cultural performances from different regions of India.
Indian ambassador P Kumaran, who is also the chief patron of the ICC, was the chief guest on the occasion while ambassadors of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka were the guests of honour.



Young dancers perform at Bharat Utsav.

Teyseer Motors was the main sponsor and Doha Bank the event sponsor, while Gulf Times was the media partner for the show.
Before commencing the cultural programme, a formal function was held to welcome the guests and the audience. Juttas Paul, general secretary of ICC, anchored the programme and introduced the guests.
ICC president Milan Arun welcomed the gathering and noted that the show was aimed at promoting the culture and traditions of the country.
“India is a vast and varied country with several languages and traditions. The show will highlight some of the distinct art forms of the country and will take the audience to their motherland,” she said.
Ambassador Kumaran noted that such cultural shows are an important medium to pass the legacy to the next generations. “We have a mind-boggling diversity which, probably, no other country can claim of. The unity in diversity is the soul and strength of India. It is our obligation to pass on our values and traditions to the next generation and especially in the context of the diasporas like ours,” maintained the Indian envoy.
A souvenir was released highlighting the activities of ICC in recent times. The major sponsors of the show were also honoured on the occasion.
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