Colours of a nation

Experience the flavours of India at the India pavilion at Global Village

There are several country pavilions at the 22nd edition of Global Village. However, the Indian pavilion stands out showcasing the nation's rich culture and heritage. Its historical façade, Heritage Village, area for craftsmen and performance stages, all this and more, keep it buzzing with activity.
According to Sunil Bhatia, Managing Director, e4 Entertainment, organisers of the India pavilion, the gates of the façade have strong historical connections. You can experience the lost grandeur of a bygone era at the Palace Gateway, a replica of the entrance to the Kaiserbagh Palace. Its architectural style is interlinked with Mysore Palace, also known as Amba Vilas Palace, a stone structure made with fine grey granite and deep pink marbles for domes.
"The designs of the domes illustrate Indo-Saracenic architecture used by British architects in India during the late 19th century," explains Bhatia.
"The main entrance of the façade has been adopted from the pottery showcased at the Harappan gallery. Pottery making is an ancient tradition of the Indus Valley civilisation," he notes.
Approximately 300 workers took three months to complete the different gates of the façade.
Interactive façade
The interactive façade has small stages that can host short performances at designated times to attract visitors to the pavilion. Rajasthani folk artists sing traditional songs accompanied by musical instruments such as Ektara and Dholak while traditional Indian puppet shows appeal to children. 
Indian artists
Visitors to the pavilion enjoy the henna designs, rice art and bidri work of talented artists. Women who specialise in henna designs (temporary tattoos) attract young girls who are willing to decorate their hands with traditional art. Three caricature artists draw quick, customised portraits for families who want to remember the moment.
"Rice art is considered to bring good luck. Originating in ancient Anatolia and India, artisans would skilfully write, usually a name on a small grain of rice. You can customise your own keychains and pendants," explains Bhatia.
Before motion pictures became the mainstay, bioscopes were highly sought after at fairs and festivals in India for entertainment. Their bright colours attract children who enjoy using them at the India pavilion. Bidri work originated in the town of of Bidar in Karnataka. Skilled artisans inlay pure silver or gold on a background of blackened steel or copper, creating striking designs. Bidri artists showcase their work at the pavilion.
It is interesting to watch the potter mould the clay. Pottery in India can be traced to the early settlements of Mehrgarh from the Indus Valley civilisation. Although a common art form, it is unique to each region and still thrives across India. Though clay pots are still used as functional cookware, it is slowly gaining importance as a cultural item as well.
Artisans have been using lacquer, a natural resin secreted by insects onto tree branches to create colourful jewellery. Lacquer jewellery is popular in Jaipur, Rajasthan, a cottage industry that has thrived for centuries. Interestingly each piece can take 16 hours to complete. There are several designs on display.
That's not all, the Mughals brought the tradition of miniature painting to India. Incredibly intricate brush work is used to create small but colourful paintings, making them unique pieces of handmade art. You can see all this and more at the India pavilion.
Heritage area
The heritage area recreates the vibrancy of Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and busiest marketplaces in Old Delhi. It is a fitting inspiration as the Red Fort is located within this market that was built in the 17th century by the Mughal Emperor of India Shah Jahan and designed by his daughter Jahanara. This marketplace is centered on a clock tower roundabout modelled after the Ghanta Ghar in Jodhpur, with an Ambassador car and iconic rickshaw and cycle stands. The streets are lined with open-air carts with fruits and vegetables, street-style restaurants called dhabas and a cluster of billboards with witty slogans about life in India. "The entrance to the junction are two crossed gadas, a blunt club made of wood or steel that is still used to train fighters. The gate is based on a sculpture in Thrippuliyoor Maha Vishnu Temple, Puliyoor," adds Bhatia.
The inside of the pavilion matches the map of the famous Red Fort in Delhi. Shops are subdivided into different areas like palaces. Visitors feel like they have returned to the Mughal era, even if they have never been to Delhi, and the people who have pleasantly feel like they have returned to a familiar place restored to its former glory. Street signs are placed between shops and intersections to create the feel of Indian streets, which connects the pavilion to the junction in the Heritage Village. The pavilion is lit by lampposts created by traditional street signs and flooring adding to the ambience.
Shopping
If you are a shopaholic, there is a selection of Pashmina shawls and gatras (headcovers), Kashmiri jewellery, Punjabi jutti, hand-embroidered bedsheets from Kolkata, wooden furniture from Saharanpur and Lucknowi traditional dresses.
Foodies can try out the Delhi special masala chaat, vada pav, pav bhaji, traditional hot saffron milk, kulfi and falooda ice creams, Indian sweets, spices from Kashmir, herbal products as well as packed tea. With all this and more, what are you waiting for?
-suchitra@khaleejtimes.com