“Events like the Muscat Festival touch on the interests of all ages to move to broader spaces of coexistence with other peoples and cultures of the world.” – Pro Chancellor, LPU
Keeping cultural heritage and traditions of India alive, the vibrant Bhangra and Giddha group of Lovely Professional University enthralled audiences at Oman’s biggest cultural event-Muscat Festival for 14 days. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)-Ministry of External Affairs (Government of India) had sponsored the visit of the 15-member LPU Bhangra and Giddha group. The international air-tickets for the group members were issued by the organizers of Muscat Festival. It is worth adding that ICCR has also selected two more LPU girl-students to perform in Malaysia at the end of March 2015.
This year, the LPU group was fortunate to enough to be a part of the celebrations of the ‘Diamond Jubilee year of the establishment of India-Oman diplomatic relations held in 1955’. Under instructions from Consultant OCD of ICCR Mr AK Bhardwaj, the LPU group was led by Kulwant Singh and the performances attracted large crowds hailing from different nations. The other LPU members included Gurjeet Singh, Aman Rai, Harsangeet, Kabal Singh, Harkirat, Sharanpreet, Vikramjeet, Avtar Singh, Yashpaul, Avtar, Gurpreet Kaur, Rattanjot Kaur, Jeewanjot Kaur, and Karampreet Kaur Brar. Most of them students of engineering, sciences, pharmacy, and architecture programs.
Muscat Festival introduces the development and culture of the Oman Sultanate to the outside world. The event has 300 million followers all over the world which has made the Sultanate one of the best and most recommended tourist destinations in the world. In addition to useful programs, the elite among thinkers, scientists, intellectuals, and poets provide the event intellectual relevance. Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) attracts global artistic bands to present traditional folklore, craft galleries, fashion shows and cuisine for their respective country at the fest. Other than India’s; artists from China, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Morocco, Thailand, Tanzania and France also participated.
Congratulating the participating students at such an international mega event, LPU Pro-Chancellor Mrs Rashmi Mittal said, “Events like the Muscat Festival touch on the interests of all ages to move to broader spaces of coexistence with other peoples and cultures of the world. Participation in such events helps students gain confidence in their talents, exposes them to international culture, and ultimately adds to their grooming as global citizens.”
Excited LPU Student Kulwant Singh said: “Muscat festival is the biggest and most entertaining event in Oman. You get to perform, see and learn so much in very healthy and entertaining settings. I am lucky to have led the LPU team on such a great platform.”
