PHOTO FEATURE
REPUBLIC DAY & CHINESE NEW YEAR
Ringing in the New I
t was a unique celebration – the combining of two joyous occasions finding expression in one. In Gujarat, the 26th day of this year was celebrated as not only the Republic Day of India but also the Chinese New Year to strengthen India-China relations. The celebrations were jointly organized by the India China Economic & Cultural Council (ICEC), Gujarat Chapter, and the Culture department of the Embassy of China in India and CCTV. The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr Narendra Modi, wished the gathering “A Happy Chinese New Year” via video message. The celebrations were inaugurated by Mr Zhang Zhihong, Cultural Counselor, Embassy of China, Ms Fang Wen, cultural officer, Embassy of China, Mr Bakul Bakshi Retd Chief Commissioner Customs & Central Excise and Mr Jagat Shah, Chairman ICEC, Gujarat. The Karnavati Club was the venue where a photo exhibition on the Beijing Opera, an authentic Chinese food festival, a quiz on India and China, trade & culture information, kite festival and a demo of Chinese language learning were held to mark the occasion. People from all over Gujarat – Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat, Rajkot, Junagadh, Bhuj and Jamnagar gathered to take part in the celebrations. Several government officials also attended. All visitors were greeted with the traditional red Chinese welcome scarf and handed a red envelope with a gift which are an integral part of the Chinese New Year. A “laughing Budha” was also gifted to
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all for good luck & fortune. More than 400 people took part and left with an awareness of the many similarities that the two great countries had in common. A quiz on China was also held and the Chinese were surprised by the knowledge exhibited by the Indians present who won all the prizes. “We must find more difficult questions for these Gujarati brains,” Mr Zhang Zhihong, Cultural Counselor, joked in a lighter vein. Several Chinese visitors and exchange students from China in Gujarat also attended and participated in a quiz on India’s Republic Day. They too won several prizes. The usual lion dance and dragon dances to mark the Chinese New Year were screened. Two popular Chinese films were also screened – Let’s Fall in Love and Forever Enthralled. Some quick and easy tips were also shared with the audience on: How to use chopsticks, the traditional method of
making Chinese tea, and How to cook authentic Chinese haka noodles etc. As part of the celebrations, the Chinese delegation visited many historic sites in Gujarat such as the Adalaj step wells, the Sardar Patel memorial, Akshardham temple, Sarkhej Roza, Jhulta minar, Sidi Saiyed ni jali, Hutheesing Jain temple and the Sabarmati ashram. There were also exchanges on Indian & Chinese culture with students from PDP University. Ms Fang Wen showed interest in organising opera shows, lion dances and dragon dances during Diwali later this year and during Vibrant Gujarat in January 2013. Mr Zhang Zhihong too expressed interest in facilitating sports trainers for the sports university mooted by Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The entire celebrations were covered by CCTV, China’s national TV .
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