New Delhi, Oct 23 Ecology, nature and human existence will be the focus of the upcoming 22nd edition of the annual festival, “IIC Experience: A Festival of the Arts”, announced the cultural institution on Friday.
The six-day festival, starting October 29 with “Prakriti: Ecology and Existence” as its theme, will explore the relationship between nature and humanity through artistic expression, ideas and lived experiences, against the backdrop of climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and challenges faced by traditional livelihoods.
Featuring a range of activities from dance and music to films, poetry readings, discussions and exhibitions, the festival will open with the exhibition “Prakriti: Harmonising Inner and Outer Worlds in South Asian Texts and Traditions”, followed by a keynote address by noted art historian Naman P Ahuja on tree worship in Indian art.
The festival will be formally inaugurated by IIC President Shyam Saran on October 30, followed by a Bharatanatyam recital, “Scent of the Earth”, by celebrated danseuse Alarmel Valli.
Among the cultural highlights are a solo recital by Maa Parvathy Baul, a classical vocal recital titled “Prakriti ka Sangeet” by Kalapini Komkali, and a performance of “Ramakien”, the Thai national epic based on Valmiki’s Ramayana.
The programme will also feature a Rudra Veena recital by Ustad Mohi Bahauddin Dagar and a Hindustani vocal recital by Pt Ajoy Chakrabarty exploring nature’s sensory attributes and the emotional world of raga.
It will also host a series of exhibitions exploring India’s cultural and ecological heritage, including “Palms and Parchment: Keralam’s Heritage of Reading and Relics”, showcasing the literary traditions and cultural treasures of Kerala, and “Living Lightly: Journey with the Pastoralists”, which examines pastoral life, mobility, landscapes and the challenges faced by pastoral communities.
“Birds of India: Company Paintings c. 1800 to 1835”, organised in collaboration with DAG, will showcase historical paintings devoted to Indian birds, while the exhibition on prakriti will explore the concept through Indian philosophy, Ayurveda and South Asian traditions.
Film enthusiasts will get to watch 13 critically acclaimed films as part of “Stories on Screen”, curated with support from the National Film Development Corporation of India, the National Film Archive of India and the Film Heritage Foundation.
The screenings will include ecological-themed film “Jurassic Park”, alongside recently restored works such as “Umrao Jaan” and “In Which Annie Gives it to Those Ones”.
Classics including the likes of “The Man Who Knew Too Much”, “Ghatashraddha”, “Angoor” and “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro” will also be screened.
The festival will host discussions on a range of issues concerning the environment and society, including wildlife conservation, urban landscapes, pastoralism, literacy, climate change and sustainable food systems.
A special discussion will examine Kerala’s achievement of 100 per cent literacy, while another session will focus on the role of women and family farms in building resilient and nutritious food systems.
Poetry lovers can look forward to “The World within the Word: Poetry Reading Session on Nature”, curated by Malashri Lal and Apoorvanand, featuring verses in Hindi, English and six regional languages.
The food lovers too will be spoilt for choice as the festival’s culinary programme, “Journeys Across India”, will offer a range of regional delicacies, including “Taste of Kalinga” by Chef Kirti Jha, culinary traditions of Jharkhand and a progressive Jain feast by Chef Nishant Choubey, Afghan cuisine by Daanesh Anand of Nooshe Joon, a French-themed evening by Chef Vijay Kumar Thukral and coastal flavours from Konkan to Malabar by Chef Lakshmi Kini.
The event will also witness the release of “The IIC Quarterly: Autumn 2026” on November 2 by IIC Life Trustee N N Vohra.
The festival will conclude on November 3.
(PTI News)
