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Floating Taj Mahal to launch Indian festival
By Ross Lydall, Evening Standard 06.07.07
Icon: a six metre metal and wood replica of the Taj Mahal will travel by boat from Vauxhall to London Bridge
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A floating replica of the Taj Mahal will sail down the Thames to launch a spectacular Indian festival in London.
The marble mausoleum will be recreated as part of a three-month festival celebrating the country's culture in advance of a visit by Mayor Ken Livingstone to India in November.
Created by Bollywood film-set designer Bijon Das Gupta, it is now under construction and will be launched on 17 July, on a barge from Vauxhall to London Bridge.
Mr Livingstone, who will view the floating six-metre metal and wood replica when it docks near City Hall, will visit Mumbai and Delhi in November to open two offices to boost business and tourism links with one of the world's fastest growing economies.
His office is co-ordinating the India Now festival of around 1,500 events at 200 cultural institutions, including a three-week showcase in Trafalgar Square from 2 August that will cost £383,000.
Other highlights include appearances by "Indian royalty" - Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, whose new film Chak De India will premiere at Somerset House, and India cricket captain Rahul Dravid.
There will be a fashion show at the Victoria & Albert Museum and exhibitions at the British Library and Museum of London, while the Regent Street festival on 2 September will have an Indian theme.
A Bollywood night will be held at Kempton Park racecourse, Sanjeev Bhaskar will give a talk at the V&A and there will be a Mumbai clubbing night at the ICA.
The 430,000-strong Indian community is the largest minority group in London .
The Mayor hopes to use the festival and his official visit to showcase contemporary India.
"Modern India is developing so rapidly that Londoners cannot refresh their knowledge of it fast enough or too often," he said.
"I hope that all Londoners will experience the many exciting cultural events taking place throughout July to September as part of India Now. It is our biggest opportunity to enjoy the cultural richness of a country that will be a huge part of our futures."
The Mayor has also lent his support to a new tour of London promoting the time spent in the capital by Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.
The two-hour walk has been devised by Ajay Goyal and covers Gandhi's five visits to London, starting in 1888 when he was training to become a barrister and used to walk up to seven miles a day searching for vegetarian food.
Many of the restaurants and places he lived in have since been demolished or destroyed in the Blitz, but the tour includes Gandhi's first London home in Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, plus Inner Temple and Farringdon Street.
Mr Goyal said India Now was a "very positive" initiative. He added: "India is going to be one of the biggest international players in the next 10 to 20 years. If you have billions of dollars worth of Indian businesses listing on the London Stock Exchange and opening offices here, the Mayor is right to focus on India for the commercial investment and co-operation.
"I think it's very important that India is highlighted as an example of peaceful co-existence. What we have learned in India is that you need two things to survive. You need tolerance and peace. You need to tolerate your neighbour no matter what his creed or colour or religion."
www.london.gov.uk/india
www.gandhislondon.com
