The holy town of Vrindavan will witness a-first-of-its-kind Divine Music Festival – Vrindavan Prakash Mahotsav aka Samkirtan Mahotsav– from November 17th to 25th, 2015. Spreading the message of peace, love and harmony through the route of spirituality – the week-long festival will feature over 40 different styles of music from across the country and various sacred traditions. The festival will also feature dance and katha alongside musical tribute to the divine. The festival is being organised to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the 16th century monk and reformer Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and seeks to unite different cultures and create an environment of peace and harmony. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, is known for his strides to promote the community style devotional worship of Krishna with kirtans. Samkritan- the music fest is a confluence of divine singing from temples across the country to the Shabad in gurudwaras, Sufi songs, Haveli kirtan, Samaj gayan, Dhrupad and Dhamar in temples to Carnatic Classical Samkirtan groups of the South and the very soul of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s life, Harinaam Sankirtan. The inaugural event will feature various gifted artistes who are slated to perform at various days of the festival namely: the Halder group with 108 Mridangams, Warsi Brothers, Dhani Singh and party performing Charkula (a dance with multi-wicked lamps), The Manganiyaars from Rajasthan led by Anwar Khan, Padawali group from West Bengal (Suman Bhattacharya with 108 marjiras), Carnatic Vocalist B Suchitra who is a Harikatha exponent and the stunning performer - Parvati Das Baul. Organised by Vrindavan based organisation, Earth Voice, with the support of Kathak Kendra, the Sangeet Natak Akademi and Dharmik Leela Commitee, the festival which has been designed and produced by the Delhi-based Showcraft Productions is set to be a an audio-visual treat. The inaugural event on November 17th will be held on the ghats of Kusum Sarovar in Vrindavan and will feature a calibrated structure on water with a ramp connecting the stage, along with a musical spectacle backed by state of the art technology to make the event unforgettable. Veteran actress and Member Parliament, Hema Malini will be a special guest at the inaugural event along with other dignitaries. Talking about adding a creative visual perspective to a celebration of spirituality, music and our cultural heritage, Lalitt Gattani, CEO, Showcraft Productions and creative director of the festival, says, “The sheer scale of this week-long celebration of faith, music and spirituality would evoke a sense of awe, by enhancing the technical and production quality and level, we at Showcraft wanted to ensure that feel of awe becomes an unforgettable memory for each person attending the Vrindavan Prakash Mahotsav. The event took over 2 months of pre-production preparations and the venues have seen over 200 people working non-stop for a week. The Fogla Ashram where the festival will be held has been decorated with specially designed props, a set of handpicked artistes have been brought in from Delhi to create Rasleela paintings. He adds, “The stage has a dynamic backdrop with vibrant images to complement each performance. We have employed a line array system with multiple hosting points to ensure we get the same decibel levels across the venue. We have extensively used intelligent lighting to highlight the naturally beautiful surrounding while adding to the grandeur of props used.” Daily Schedule of the festival is expected to be: 1008 Shreemad Bhagwal Mool Path: 5am-9am Bal Bhog (Breakfast): 8:30am -9.30am Shreemad Bhagwat Katha in Main Pandal, Fogla Ashram : 9:30am – 11:00am Shree Man Madhawa Gaudeshwar Vaishnavacharya Shree Abhishek Goswami Maharaj: 12pm – 1:00pm Rajbhog (Lunch) : 1:30pm – 2:30pm ChaitanyaLeela at ShreejeeSadan, FoglaAshram : 3:00pm Onwards Samkirtan Mahakumbh in Main Pandal, Fogla Ashram: 6:00pm Onwards Byaru (Dinner): 9:30pm Onwards
Read More
Madison IES, the activation and experential unit of Madison OOH and Madison World created an experiential zone for Cleartrip.com at the Indi bloggers meet to promote its new service “Activities”. The brief given to Madison IES was to create an adventure experience zone that people can indulge in during the meet. A 20 foot wall climbing set up was arranged for bloggers to feel the thrill of rock climbing, along with a Harley Davidson Fat boy model & Kawasaki 650 sports bike as photo op and a mini golf course & segway stole the show. The activities zone became the highlight of the event, with activities defining all types of adventure interests for all age groups. The experience zone, reached out to more than 600 potential customers, who in turn promoted the brand on their blogs & generated social media buzz making it the talk of the town. Says Yougender Bhatia, Assistant Manager Online Marketing, Cleartrip.com, “Great team. Understood the requirements very quickly and ensured all the items were delivered on time. Madison IES also solved few on-ground issues and were agile enough to ensure a seamless execution of the entire event.” Saumen Roy, Vice President & Head, Madison IES, says, “the challenge was to optimize the limited space and create adventure zones where bloggers could also participate”.
Read More
Delhi Photo Festival, a biennial photography festival organized by Nazar Foundation was held at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in Delhi from October 30th – 8th November, 2015. Delhi Photo Festival is in the third edition, curated by photographers Prashant Panjiar and Dinesh Khanna under the aegis of the Nazar Foundation. The first two editions of the Delhi Photo Festival were in partnership with the India Habitat Centre and were hosted at the IHC. The third edition’ theme was Aspire. A nine day long DPF included various programs and exhibitions by renowned artists and photographers exhibiting their work, talk shows by leading international and national photo practitioners, seminars & discussions and education outreach programs through various workshops for children. Raghu Rai, a known photographer had exhibited some of his beautiful pictures and launched a book “ India Through The Eye of Raghu Rai” at the festival clicked entirely using Gionee Elife E8. He travelled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari capturing the essence of India through the phone lens. Since Gionee Elife E8 comes with 24-megapixel primary camera on the rear, the whole idea was to bank upon the feature of the phone, by associating with famous photographer and highlighting the features and creating brand awareness about the product. Delhi Photo Festival was the right platform for Gionee to showcase their product. Vibgyor Brand Services organized and executed the exhibition for Gionee. Praveen Kumar, Account Manager at Vibgyor said, “We have been associated with Gionee for very long and have organized and executed many big events for them. Organizing an exhibition for Gionee at DPF exhibiting Raghu Rai photographs was a proud moment for all of us and we hope our association with them goes for long”
Read More
Culinary Communications Pvt. Ltd., an organisation of a young team driven by passion for food, presents the second edition of The Gourmet High Street from 4th to 6th December 2015 at Leisure Valley Park, Gurgaon. The three day food festival is an international platform, exhibiting every aspect of food and help promote Indian cuisine across the globe. The Gourmet High Street food festival promises to celebrate food everywhere, from Chef’s demo to mixology session to chef’s workshop to Gourmet Market, experience all these and more under one roof. Speaking on the concept, Ms Kavneet Sahni says, “At The Gourmet High Street we want to connect consumers directly with the industry leaders and producers, so that they can learn more about food by education, experience and opportunity to purchase direct from its producers.“ The highlights of this gastronomic food festival is will be: 1. Culinary Grind, League Of Extraordinary Chefs - Bringing together some of the finest chefs like Vikas Khanna, Sarah Todd, Gaggan Anand, Manish Malhotra, to name a few from the culinary world to conduct cooking demos 2. The Sipping Turf: An opportunity to discover the art of mixing, serving and devouring drinks. Watch top mixologists and sommeliers talk about the finest international and Indian drinks. 3. The Gourmet Market Place will exhibit fresh and organically produced vegetables to salads homemade jams, sausages, cupcakes, honey, gluten free cakes and biscuits, and many more. New Additions in The Gourmet High Street 2015 this year are: 1-I have it all for Food A new zone for upcoming food entrepreneurs, in India. The Zone is dedicated especially for entrepreneurs who have left their existing occupations to start something in food. 2-Cooking Studio A first of its kind cooking studio to cook along with leading celebrity chefs. Get a chance to learn cooking techniques from the masters in person. 3-War on the Trucks An opportunity to vote for your favourite food truck in Gurgaon at the festival. At the end of the festival a trophy along with a certificate will be presented to the winning truck. 4-By the Fountains Restaurant pop ups showcasing the leading restaurants of India Experience musical performances from leading artist 5-Barbeque Party A place where people can enjoy and learn about various aspects of a Barbecue Party Fact Sheet: Dates: 4th, 5th and 6th December 2015 Venue: Leisure Valley Park (Inside Park Area), Gurgaon Entry: Ticketed (Rs 350 per person single entry; Rs 550 per person for all three days)
Read More
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, has announced its three-year sponsorship as ‘Presenting Partner’ of the prestigious International Premier Tennis League (IPTL). Founded in 2013, IPTL brings together current champions, tennis legends and upcoming talent in a format that has never been seen before. Created to fulfil the increasing demand for top-level tennis in Asia, it is the first city-based professional tennis league in the world, played with teams in four Asian cities: Dubai, Manila, New Delhi and Singapore. For this years’ second season, the League sees the addition of the charming city of Kobe as the fifth city. The league is scheduled to take place in Kobe, Manila, Delhi, Dubai and Singapore between 2nd – 20th December 2015, and tennis lovers across the world will be able to witness their favourite Grand Slam champions and top-ranked tennis stars from the past and present battle it out in a unique league format. This upcoming season will see the return of tennis superstars like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, while also featuring some new stalwarts in Rafael Nadal and Leander Paes. IPTL has garnered much excitement since its first season and it continues to be popular among fans. The Indian Aces team walked away as the first ever IPTL winners in 2014, but the competition is set to be even more exciting this year with the addition of the Japan Warriors as the fifth team. The team will be led by Japanese sensation, Kei Nishikori, ranked world No. 6 along with other champions such as Leander Paes, Maria Sharapova, Daniela Hantuchova and Marat Safin. Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Hugh Dunleavy said: “It gives us immense pleasure to announce our three-year partnership with the International Premier Tennis League. The overwhelming response the league received last season showcases the interest of Asian tennis fans in the region and the success of this format and the partnership with IPTL reinforces our commitment to be associated with large-scale sports events and sports legends.” Mahesh Bhupathi on behalf of IPTL said: “Qatar Airways has an enviable portfolio of global sports events. We are delighted to have them back on board as our presenting sponsor for three years. They are an award-winning international airline with a clear vision and commitment to sports. We look forward to making this association beneficial to their customers and partners.” The league will kick start in the city of Kobe on the 2nd of December with the grand finale will be witnessed by fans in Singapore on the 20thof December. The five teams – Indian Aces, Japan Warriors, Philippine Mavericks, Singapore Slammers, and UAE Royals – will lock horns with each other in a fiery battle to win the coveted IPTL Champions title along with the prize money of USD 1.5 million.
Read More
Teamwork Arts, an entertainment company in the performing arts space, has recently announced a brand new festival – Shree Cement The Sacred, Pushkar - a festival that inspires and encourages well-being, tranquility and self-discovery through music, yoga and meditation. Shree Cement The Sacred takes place between November 22-24 November, just ahead of Kartik Poornima, and will bring together music, meditation and wellness practices for a uniquely divine experience. The Sacred will feature diverse musical performances including Spanish sacred music ensemble La Grande Chapelle, Grammy-winning Hindustani classical music instrumentalist Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, vocalist Shubha Mudgal, popular folk influenced singer Kailesh Kher, Nagara maestro Nathu lal Solanki and Sino-Jewish collaborators Yom and Wang Li. Heritage walks, Guided meditations, Chanting and wellness practices including Kundalini Yoga by Kulbir Singh, son of Yogi Bhajan and Vayu Yoga by Capucine Redon & Suresh Dutt Sharma. Sanjoy Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, says, “At Teamwork Arts, we continue to celebrate the spirit of creative expression and this festival is a manifestation of all things divine that lie within us. From the beautiful and divine host city of Pushkar to the numerous soul stirring performers who’ve joined to collaborate for this experience, Shree Cement The Sacred will be an experience for visitors like never before. We’re grateful to the state of Rajasthan and to our partners Shree Cement who’ve collaborated with us to help us keep this festival a memorable experience for visitors” With a rich and colorful heritage, Rajasthan plays host to some of the most engaging cultural experiences, making it a unique destination for international and national travelers as well as the local populace. This year, just ahead of the auspicious Kartik Poornima, the holy city of Pushkar will host Shree Cement The Sacred where visitors can embark on an ethereal journey into the self through a series of life invigorating experiences, enveloped by music that invokes the sacred within and around oneself. Vasundhara Raje, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan, says, “Rajasthan is playing host to a kaleidoscope of cultural celebration – from the world's largest literature gathering to Coke Studio in Jaipur, making it a not to be missed destination for travelers from India and beyond. This year, the picturesque town of Pushkar, which for long has been a photographer's delight, will host Shree Cement The Sacred – a carnival of music, yoga and meditation with heritage walks and wellness activities interspersed with breathtaking musical performance by devotional artistes and performers. Come, celebrate with us!”
Read More
The last leg of the year is bustling with brands going full throttle to engage their TG through creative experiences. On one hand, EDM festivals like NH7 Weekender, Sunburn and VH1 Supersonic are being looked upon as platforms for activations and mass engagement by most brands; a few notable ones are investing in their own events to get the most out of year end festivities. A brand that easily falls into the latter category is Royal Enfield. Often identified as the oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production, Enfield is known to have created the mid-size motorcycle segment in India with its series of modern classic bikes. The brand also boasts of having a loyal customer base and is going all out to experientially woo their community through the upcoming edition of Rider Mania. Interestingly, Royal Enfield’s ‘Rider Mania’ stands directly in competition to their biggest rival in the heavy motorcycle segment i.e. Harley Davidson’s ‘Harley Rock Riders’. With the recently executed edition of Harley Rock Riders being proclaimed as a considerable success, it is of interest of most bike lovers to see what does Royal Enfield has to offer to its fans through its version of a music & action packed event. For those of you still wondering what’s on offer at Rider Mania ’15 need not worry as we at EE bring to you the latest insights from this upcoming event. Slated to be held from 20th of November, Rider Mania promises to be a three-day motorcyclist heaven with more than 6000 riders expected to attend the festival this year. In a first for the festival, Royal Enfield owners from several cities including Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai will be riding in to Vagator in groups. Also making its debut is the Dirt Track Racing Training specially incepted for the new Royal Enfield enthusiasts. The training will include 5 simultaneous sessions where enthusiasts would be able to learn the skills to negotiate tough terrains. Also, early morning Breakfast rides will give the participants an opportunity to ride along with the local Royal Enfield clubs. Additionally, the traditional Celebration Ride is expected to feature all participants exploring the natural trails of Goa. In terms of entertainment too, Rider Mania seems to offer an interesting blend as names like Indian Ocean, Karsh Kale, Raghu Dixit project, Dualist Inquiry, F16and DJ Nucleya are set to perform at the venue. The festival will also be filled with multiple on-ground engagements like demonstrations of custom built Royal Enfields from around the country, Assembly Wars sessions where teams dismantle a specific part, get it verified by the marshal, assemble it and race it back to the marshal and a slow race where the slowest participant to complete the track without putting their leg down will win. An insider from the Eicher Motor vehicles revealed that Wizcraft has been handed over the mandate to execute the event alongside Royal Enfield’s community team. Also Royal Enfield after this event will be participating in EICMA in Italy and various events in Australia and Indonesia. 2016, too will be a busy year for the brand as it looks forward to further engaging its TG through a number of marquee rides events such as Himalayan Odyssey, Tour of Rajasthan, Tour of Nepal, Tour of Bhutan and the REUnions- South and North. With so many offerings on the cards, it is safe to say Rider Mania can be expected to be as big an event as Harley Rock Riders if not less. The deciding factor however, on which event served the best engagement to its attendees shall be made only after deciphering on how Wizcraft executes Rider Mania in comparison to OML executing Harley Rock Riders.
Read More
Scheduled to be held from 18 December to 10 January in the sprawling Connaught Place area of New Delhi, the CP Shopping Festival is organized by the New Delhi Traders Association - NDTA in partnership with Hindustan Times and with the help of NDMC, Delhi Tourism and Delhi police. Positioned as an experiential venue and a platform for effective consumer engagement, here are 5 reasons why your brand should be part of the fest this year- 1- Unlike short duration festivals of 2 days to a week, CP shopping fest offers a unique selling proposition as a three week long festival. 2- Choose from visibility around 5-sq km area and to lacs of visitors who visit and circumvent Connaught Place during the three week long period. 3- Gives brands the opportunity to visually own connaught place in terms of unique, not otherwise available, branding units in and around connaught place, which creates an enviable positioning and huge brand recall amongst the visitors. 4- Brands may run contests and promos to drive sales and also run cross promotions in shops and restaurants of CP, and also be present physically in Connaught Place showcasing and booking its products on ground. 5- The partner would be allowed access to CP's upcoming unique online marketplace, www.shoppingincp.com which would have a very interactive app (Mylomart) by the time the festival comes up in december, from where one can push promos to potential customers and also drive direct online sales.
Read More
