Leading scholar of Indian classical dance, architecture, art history, culture Kapila Vatsyayan no more

Kapila Vatsyayan in her younger days.

Dr Kapila Vatsyayan passed away peacefully at her residence (No.85, SFS Flats, Gulmohar Enclave, New Delhi), Wednesday 16th September, 2020 at about 0900 hrs, this morning, . She was a leading scholar of Indian classical dance, art, architecture, and art history. Many people felt she was the most authoritative commentator on these subjects.

She was formerly a member of parliament and also served as Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Education, where she was responsible for the establishment of a large number of national institutions of higher education. She served as the founding director of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. She was former President of India International Centre (IIC) and an IIC Life Trustee and the Chairperson of the IIC International Research Division. Bornon 25 December 1928 she was over 91 when she passed away

In 1970, Vatsyayan received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s national academy for music, dance and drama; this was followed by the Lalit Kala Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour in the fine arts conferred by Lalit Kala Akademi, India’s national academy for fine arts in 1995. In 2011, the Government of India bestowed upon her the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian honour.

Lamenting her demise, Film actor Sharmila Tagore said “I guess the final curtain comes to us all. I too have had some endearing moments with her.There was so much to learn from her.I admired & was inspired by her. Today where do we see people like her? With her knowledge & drive?Who is there to appreciate her legacy?”




Thai Cultural Extravaganza Enthralls Delhi Residents at 2019 Namaste Thailand Festival

  • Festival reshapes Thailand-India Cultural Bonds in Delhi
  • Three-day festival from March 15th to 17th is the third edition of the annual cultural event
  • Participants enjoys fusion of Thai Art, Culture, Music and food

New Delhi, March 16, 2019: It was a treat for Delhiites in real sense. The Thai cultural fest featuring music, dance, craft, cuisines and a host of other activities played host to the people of Indian capital at the Royal Thai Embassy
in New Delhi on the second day of the Namaste Thailand Festival 2019. Hundreds of local residents who participated in the festival were treated with musical and dance performances by Thai artists. The popular Thai band Asia-7 enthralled the audience with its powerful performance at action packed evening.
“In terms of bilateral relationship, India has had a good, peaceful relationship with Thailand. But we are still in the early stages. Our trade has had an increase of 30% year on year in 2017 and 2018, which is about 12 billion, but
we have much more to achieve. What we do have is good people to people cultural relation and we want to build on that foundation and let it deliver political and economic dividends. So that trade and investment is much larger
than this. Namaste Thailand Festival is an initiative in that direction,” said His Excellency Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi, Ambassador of Thailand to India.
The Thai cultural festival was first organised in 2017 with an aim to strengthen bilateral ties, and increase cultural exchanges and people to people contacts between the people of two great nations.

The Cultural exchange is one of the cornerstones of evolving relationships between any two countries. This especially becomes relevant when India and Thailand have a shared history and cultural heritage.
To strengthen the bond of friendship and people to people contact, the Namaste Thailand Festival organized by the Royal Thai Embassy, has played a crucial role in bring the people of two nations closer than ever.
The festival, organized at Select CITYWALK in New Delhi, showcased the diverse and exquisite culture of Thailand, its mouthwatering food and many attractions that people across the age-group can enjoy.

The Thai cuisines are an absolute must if one is visiting the Thai fest. The festival, beginning at 3 pm on all the three days from 15 th to 17 th March, also features renowned Thai restaurant Nueng Roi by Radisson Blu.
The biggest attractions of the festival were the Ambassador of Thailand to India, His Excellency, Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi, cooking traditional mouthwatering Thai cuisine.
There are 28 stores from Thailand at the festival showcasing an array of fun workshops and an exciting shopping experience. Other key attractions of the festival includes art and handicraft, ceramic, clothing line including silk and
cotton, paper flowers, women clothing, jewels, aroma herbs, spa products as well as souvenirs from northern of Thailand.
The festival also offers a series of Thai craft activities including photo booths with Thai costumes, mulberry paper mini umbrella making, fan painting, personalized mini umbrellas. These traditional umbrellas are rich with colour and designs being famous world over. The tradition of these umbrellas goes as far back as 5,000 years
and has been a key feature of Thai Royals, religious leaders, and other dignitaries. The participants tried their hands at another-Fan painting- which is much loved by one and all.
The cultural fiesta ends in Delhi on Sunday, 17th March, 2019.




Namaste Thailand: Delhi Gets a Date with Thailand’s Beautiful Culture & Mouth Watering Cuisine

Namaste Thailand Festival 2019 Celebrates 72 years of Indo-Thai Diplomatic Relations

His Excellency Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi, Ambassador of Thailand, inaugurates the festival at the Plaza, Select Citywalk, Saket, New Delhi
The three-day festival is the third edition of the annual cultural event aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and cultural exchanges

New Delhi, 15th March 2019: From scrumptious Thai food to impressive couture and mesmerizing Thai music! It was a date to remember for the residents of Delhi who were treated to a splendid evening of Thailand’s beautiful culture on the opening day of the Namaste Thailand Festival 2019, organized by The Royal Thai Embassy.
The Namaste Thailand Festival 2019, that marks 72 years of Indo-Thai Diplomatic Relations, was inaugurated this evening by His Excellency Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi, Ambassador of Thailand to India. The three day festival will introduce the people of Delhi to the unique and diverse culture of Thailand, a country that shares centuries of close bonds with India. The festival was first rolled out in 2017 with an aim to strengthen bilateral ties, and increase cultural exchanges and people to people contacts between India and Thailand.
“In terms of bilateral relationship, India has had a good, peaceful relationship with Thailand. But we are still in the early stages. Our trade has had an increase of 30% year on year in 2017 and 2018, which is about 12 billion, but we have much more to achieve. What we do have is good people to people cultural relation and we want to build on that foundation and let it deliver political and economic dividends. So that trade and investment is much larger than this. Namaste Thailand Festival is an initiative in that direction.”, said His Excellency Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi, Ambassador of Thailand to India.

The festival included interesting features and stage performances by Thai artists including the much popular Thai band Asia-7. The fusion folk-jazz band from Thailand is much popular in India having performed at a series of festivals and shows including the Delhi International Jazz Festival.

The festival put together by the Ministry of Culture of Thailand brings a number of Thai artists and cultural ambassadors to showcase the diverse and exquisite culture of Thailand. When it comes to Thai culture, the food is an unmissable aspect of it. Renowned Thai restaurant Nueng Roi by Radisson Blu, brings forth a mouth watering experience of Thai cuisines as part of the festival.
Among other attractions at the three day festival are stalls that offer unique and exquisite Thai jewelry, aroma herbs, textiles and fashion garments, handicrafts, spa products as well as souvenirs from northern of Thailand.
The festival also offers a series of Thai craft activities including mulberry paper mini umbrella making and fan painting, personalized mini umbrellas, body paint, button badge making and photo booths with Thai costumes.
The cultural fiesta ends in Delhi on Sunday, 17 th March, 2019.