Village India & Experience Gujarat 2009

This international music festival is set to be held in the East Midlands for the first time in the summer. The Village India and Experience Gujarat 2009 Festival will be staged for 4 days in Leicester's De Montfort Hall and Gardens from Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th September.

Over 40,000 visitors from across the UK are expected to attend the dual themed festival which is billed as a unique celebration of life and culture and will see a highly acclaimed international artists performing alongside entertainment, food, and crafts, staged in huge traditional village setting.

The village will host music and dance performances over two stages from international artists including Aishwarya Majmudar, Indus Ensemble, Bandish Projekt, Samay, Bobby Friction, Sukshinder Shinda, Tiger Style, Arun Ghosh Sextet, Parthiv Gohil, Fusion Dreams, Panjabi MC, Bollywood Brass Band, Parthiv Gohil, Hemant Chauhan, and a plethora of entertainment and Indian cuisine.

Village India will also stage exciting traditional and contemporary Indian dance, featuring India-based Dhanyadhara: Folk Dances of India dance troupe, demonstrating vibrant folk dances from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Assam, Punjab and Gujarat and supported by Shaan Mutiyara Di and Desi Masti two regionally based dance groups. Additionally there will be a Discovery Zone, aimed at 'cultivating culture' with workshops and demonstrations spanning both music and dance. A Walkway Photographic Exhibition will also be created featuring 150 images of key historical figures, architecture, legends and vibrant portraiture of rural people and their lives.

Experience Gujarat will have nine themed concerts held over the weekend indoors in the De Montfort Hall auditorium, produced by the world's leading Indian music record label Sense World Music (Indian classical specialists) and their sister label Sur Sagar who are specialists in Gujarati music. The Experience Gujarat concert program will present the best artists the Gujarat has to offer. They will be performing:- Gujarati Dayro, Comedy, Childrens Entertainment, Bhajans, Stutis, Slokhas, Folk Songs, Garba, Traditional Storytelling, Duha, Chand, Classic Film Songs, Wedding Songs & A Tribute To Avinash Vyas.

The Festival is Two Events in One with Village India held in the De Montfort Hall Gardens, and Experience Gujarat held in the main De Montfort auditorium.

A traditional Indian village complete with 24ft model of the Taj Mahal will be recreated for the intercultural festival celebrating all aspects of Indian culture, which also coincides to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the Gujarat.

Additionally there will be a Discovery Zone, aimed at ‘cultivating culture’ with workshops and demonstrations spanning both music and dance. A Walkway Photographic Exhibition will also be created featuring 150 images of key historical figures, architecture, legends and vibrant portraiture of rural people and their lives.

The two Village India stages, will host everything from Contemporary Bhangra and Bollywood to World Music Fusion acts, Traditional music and Dance, Fashion Shows and DJs. Think a world music festival with a big Indian flavour and you will get a feel for it! The festival is aiming to span all generations and nurture cultural heritage is planned to grow into the biggest family orientated inter-cultural event in the UK.

Entry to the International Trade show is free. Both Village India and Experience Gujarat are separately ticketed events. Village India tickets are priced at £15-£20 for Adults, Under 16s £9-£12, Children aged 4 and under free. Experience Gujarat concert tickets £7- £30. Purchasing an Experience Gujarat concert ticket entitles the ticket holder to buy a heavily discounted entrance ticket for access to the Village India event on the same day: Prices £6 - £7.50 (Proof of purchase of an Experience Gujarat ticket is required). To buy tickets, click here.

The event is supported by the Honourable Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the event is part of the Golden Jubilee of Celebrating 50 Years of Gujarat.

More information will be here when available.

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