India's Culture Ministry is organising the First G20 Culture Group (CWG) meet in Khajuraho, Chatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh from February 22 to 25, 2023, which will see over 125 delegates attend the meeting.
“India is so rich and diverse in culture that the cultural engagements acquire their own significance and importance. The overarching theme of G20 is that of “Vasudev Kutumbakam”- One Earth · One Family · One Future’. The Ministry of Culture has developed a robust programme of cultural projects inspired by India’s G20 theme of Vasudev Kutumbakam,” Culture secretary Govind Mohan said.
Mohan was briefing the media about the coming first G20 Culture Group (CWG) meeting. He said India’s G20 Culture Track is predicated on the idea of ‘Culture for LiFE’- environmentally conscious lifestyle as a campaign for sustainable living.
The Culture Working Group will have four meetings and they will be held in Khajuraho, Bhubaneshwar, Hampi and the final location, is yet to be decided. He also informed that for Khajuraho, the theme is “Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property”.
“This cultural working group meeting in Khajuraho will also have an exhibition which will be organized at the Maharaja Chhatrasal Convention Centre, which will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Culture G Kishan Reddy along with state Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan,” Mohan said.
The Khajuraho Dance Festival Cultural performances will also be held as a part of the meet, he added.
The delegates will also visit the Western Group of Temples, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They will also be taken to Panna Tiger Reserve.
As a part of the meeting, there will be an exhibition titled “Re(ad)dress : Return of Treasures” at the Maharaja Chhatrasal Convention Centre (MCCC), which will be inaugurated by Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chauhan and Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER G Kishan Reddy.
India assumed the G20 presidency on 1 December 2022, articulating the theme of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – ‘One Earth · One Family · One Future’. The philosophy draws from the Maha Upanishad, an ancient Indian Sanskrit text, affirming the value of all life – human, animal, and plant – and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe.
With its spirit rooted in the idea of inclusiveness, universal welfare, and harmony among all beings, it is premised on the belief that all individuals are collectively responsible towards each other and their shared future. ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ aims to foster, celebrate, and incorporate the diversity of cultural traditions amongst the member states while striving towards holistic living and creating a pro-people planet.
The CWG will evolve through four meetings in four historic cities of India and steer the G20 discourse on four priority areas. India’s CWG will reflect the emergence of Culture as a prominent theme on the global stage, it will adopt ‘Culture’ to renew multilateral and multicultural cooperation at all levels and will aim to forward this ideal and inform future global cultural policies and initiatives.
Four priority areas of India’s CWG include Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property;Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future; Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries, and Creative Economy;Leveraging Digital Technologies for Protection and Promotion of Culture.
To engage with these priorities further, the CWG has also developed a robust year-long program of cultural projects such as exhibitions, immersive experiences, symposiums, seminars, art residencies, workshops, publications, etc.
Fascinating facts about Khajuraho
1. An ancient city, Khajuraho is known for its majestic temples and elaborate sculptures.
2. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, was constructed by the Chandela Dynasty between 950-1050 AD.
3. The aesthetic of the Nagara-style architecture, ornamented with the intricate and detailed sculptures, acts like a window into the socio-cultural practices of the time.
4. There were 85 temples in the temple site in Khajuraho, covering 20 square kilometres, in the 12th Century AD.
6. Only 25 of these temples - scattered throughout a 6 square kilometre area - have survived.
Meanwhile, as Madhya Pradesh is set to get a new airport, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the people of Rewa district for the upcoming airport, saying the construction of the airport would help ease the life of people of Rewa and its surrounding areas
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