10th International Children's Festival of Performing Arts starts off in capital

New Delhi, Dec.16 (ANI): The 10th International Children's Festival of Performing Arts meant to promote global peace and unity through the medium of performing and allied arts was formally inaugurated in the capital on Wednesday. At least 250 programmes are scheduled to be presented by the participants at four different venues during the four-day event.

Over 5,000 children from as many as 30 countries are participating in the annual event hosted by the Ryan Foundation in cooperation with National Bal Bhavan and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).

The Ryan Foundation manages several educational institutions.

On the first day, a colourful parade by the participating nations was the highlight of the opening ceremony in which participating children walked hand-in-hand to send across the message of peace and unity.

According to the organisers, the festival will provide the guest participants a glimpse of India's rich cultural heritage and also the nation's unique essence of unity in diversity.

"By organising the International Festival we are bringing all the countries together because this is one world for all of us to live in. Because all the delegates who come to India take the message that India has wonderful hospitality and all types of people live here are of different caste and creed. But all live in love and harmony and brotherhood. That is what India is famous for," said Grace Pinto, Chairperson, International Children's Festival of Performing Arts (ICFPA).

On their part, the participants were quite upbeat about the entire event.

"We enjoyed here. We came here in India very late, but the school management is very cooperative and we are very excited. We want to see different countries and how this school (Ryan International School) has managed this big event," said Bushra, a Pakistani delegate.

Children from Bangladesh, Iran, Israel, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Finland, Germany, Turkey, Singapore are among the participants in this year's edition of the festival. (ANI)