Mexico National Day celebrations in India
Photographs pf world heritage sites of Mexico at display
As part of the Mexico National Day celebrations in India, a photo-exhibition portraying the UNESCO World Heritage sites and practices of Mexico was opened at the Indira Gandhi National Centre in the Indian capital.
A collection of 45 photographs, portraying Mexican culture, is currently at display at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New Delhi.
Titled ‘Mexico in the World Heritage‘, the exhibition that is on till September 14, 2018, is showcasing the works of Mexican photographer Adalberto Ríos Szalay.
Opened at the Embassy of Mexico in India, the show brought together Mexican and Indian representatives in a cultural exchange.
The photo-exhibition was inaugurated by Melba Pría, Ambassador of Mexico to India and Sachchidanand Joshi, member secretary, IGNCA, in the presence of Supriya Consul, director programmes, Kaladarsana, IGNCA, Ratan Kaul, vice president, Indian Council of Human Relations (ICHR), Rashmi Sachdeva, Winner of Mrs. Universe 2016 contest, ambassadors and guests of the diplomatic community, as well as photography and art enthusiasts.
Talking about the age-old Indian concept vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family), Sachchidanand Joshi pointed out the similarities in the photograph of the Mexican rock-paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco and the pre-historic cave and temple paintings found in India.
Speaking on the significance of this unique exhibition, Pría commented, “What we want to share with the Indian public is this Mexican wealth, which not everyone has the opportunity to see. It is without a doubt a cultural exhibition, but also a tourist exhibition.”
The photographs by Adalberto Ríos Szalay, offer a glimpse into the rich architecture, art, people and culture of the country, as well as a series of natural and cultural spaces, including the beautiful Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary and the Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacán.
The exhibition also depicted the Mexican gastronomy and mariachi music (Mariachi), which are listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
With a wide diversity of natural and cultural heritage, Mexico is home to 35 World Heritage Sites, considered by UNESCO to be of outstanding value to humanity. Mexico has the largest number of heritage sites in the American continent and the seventh largest in the world, just after India which has 37 sites listed.
The purpose of this photo-exhibition is to initiate creative dialogues between Mexico and India, and to explore opportunities for knowledge exchange on restoration, conservation, and promotion of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.
