Click to play videoLondon: As Trafalgar square in London hosted the annual Diwali celebrations at the weekend for the 7th year running, London's national gallery hosted a rather unique event for the very first time.
At the gallery, dancers and musicians from local Indian art schools depicted stories from the Ramayana, highlighting the significance of Diwali.
“People appreciate it the profile of Indian art is raised everyone appreciates music and dance,” says, artistic Director, Annapurna Indian Dance Company, Shantha Rao.
Another crowd puller was the story telling sessions. Using the existing paintings at the Gallery, mostly from European artists, parallels were drawn to the Ramayana.
For instance this Tintoretto (tint-o-reto) painting from the 16th century depicting Christ washing the feet of his disciples, became the backdrop for the story of Kewath, the poor boatman.
“Am telling the story of Kewath who also washed Lord Rama's feet,” says Ranu Mehta Radia from Sai School, Harrow.
“We have European paintings, but this year we invited traditional Indian artists to use these paintings and respond/draw connections with the stories associated with Diwali,” says, National Gallery spokesperson, Karly Allen.
This is the first time that such an event took place in London and going by the response, one hopes, it isn't the last.
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