Pune Festival kicked off

Pune, Sep 1 (UNI) The 18th edition of the Pune Festival got off to a colourful start here today.

A spectacular acrobatic show by Chinese artists, ''Buddham Sharanam Gachami'' chanted by Manisha Sathe's troupe performing the Japanese fan dance and noted actor and danseuse Meenakshi Sheshadri infusing different western styles and movements, while offering the Ganesh Vandana ushered in the era of remixes on stage, marking the inaugural function.

A colourful Lavani with modern movements by Actor Varsha Usgaonkar , ''Ganesh Sthapana''-a laser show, ''Shiv Rajyaabhishek Sohala'' from the epic Marathi play 'Jaanta Raja' by Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare, Ganesh Puja and a grand finale by Shiamak Davar and his troupe were other highlights of the festival apart from the presence of actor Amisha Patel.

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Ambika Soni said she was impressed by the heritage of the city and would make efforts to make the Raja Dinkar Museum a ''showpiece palace'' for the city. She said she was overwhelmed by the room in the Aga Khan Palace where Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba lived for two years. Their simple life style should serve as a lesson to the world.

Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) Director Jabbar Patel informed that PIFF would be held between January 11-17th , 2007. A special section for music enthusiasts would be kept this year to observe the birth centenary celebrations of late Sachindra Dev Burman. Musicals and eseminars would be held to honour him during the PIFF, he said.

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