Celebrating spirit of the city that is Delhi

NEW DELHI: It's celebration time in the Capital once again. The third annual Times Delhi Festival, an eight-day-long celebration of the city and its people, begins this Sunday. The festival, supported by Delhi Tourism and partnered by Radio Mirchi and Radisson Hotel, is all about life, art and just good old times promising to bring a cheer in these times of recession and fear.
The festival will be held across the city, with events lined up from the Siri Fort Auditorium to India Habitat Centre, Dilli Haat to Purana Qila to Epicentre in Gurgaon.And, it has something to offer to people from all age groups. The inauguration ceremony will be held at Central Park in Connaught Place featuring performances by Munnawar Masoom, followed by Rajasthan Roots.
For music lovers, there is a treat for each ear. Aficionados of classical music will have the opportunity to experience the soulful music of santoor vadak Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and the lilting flute of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia in the backdrop of the historic Purana Qila on Saturday. This will be followed by a performance by vocal singer Hariharan the next day.
Husband-and-wife duo L Subramanium and Kavita Krishnamurthy will captivate the audience with a violin-vocal jugalbandi at Siri Fort, a venue that will later come alive with the foot-tapping beats of multi-percussionist Sivamani. Shibani Kashyap, Vipin Aneja and Shankar Sahney will also perform at Mall carnivals and Dilli Haat. Audiences will be regaled with Bengali music at Epicentre, Gurgaon. Shows by Sovon Hazra and a Bharatnatyam recital by Snigdha Venkatramani and Swapna Seshadri are also on the cards.
Can a festival celebrating Delhi be complete without theatre? Two productions 30 Days in September by Lillette Dubey and Mr and Mrs Karan Johar starring Aman Verma, Delnaaz Paul and Nigaar Khan will be staged at Siri Fort Auditorium at Khel Gaon Marg.
The mouth watering fragrances wafting from the streets of old Delhi will find their way to Eatopia and Dilli Haat where the food festival will be held. Patrons will have a chance to sample the best of gleaming jalebis, stuffed paranthas, phirni, mouth-watering biryani succulent nahari gosht from Chandni Chowk, while they will also be able to see some of the most famous chefs reveal their chosen secrets at some of the city's best restaurants.
Finally, let the good times roll with the Delhi Times and Seagrams Fuel Love Parade. On most days of the festival, there will be a party at some of the most happening places in town. La dolce vita anyone? Go on then surrender!