Saturday, June 18 2005 21:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: The famous Trafalgar Square in the heart of London reverberated with the sounds of Garba and the vibrant martial art dance from Manipur as the two-day Dilli Haat celebrations showcasing the rich art and cultural tradition of India began in London today (Jun 18, 2005).

NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul, Britain's Ambassador for Overseas Business, lit a lamp as Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit inaugurated the show saying, "This is only the beginning. There will be many more such events in future."

"Dilli Haat in London is a joint venture of the Government of Delhi and the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, as part of an ongoing cultural exchanges between the two cities," she said.

She said the exposition at London would be a step towards creating global awareness about India's rich craft tradition and Dilli Haat is a major testimony to the fact that amidst the aggressive onslaught of modernity, many traditional crafts have revived and have evolved new parameters of aesthetic and commercial value.

India's crafts encompass a rich heritage of skills, motifs, designs, texture identities and expression. It is by far the largest and most prolific living cultural tradition in the world.

Ken Livingstone earlier said "This project has been initiated personally by Sheila Dikshit under the London-Delhi agreement and would help strengthen close links between the two great cities.