Interpreting the future by looking at our past: Arth - A Cultural Fest

American author Mark Twain once said "India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only." Whether it is art or science, music or mathematics, cinema or craftsmanship, our rich and varied cultures are an intrinsic part of the fabric of our nation's long history.

To truly understand the extent of India's cultural evolution, which in its essence is our story, and find our own individual truth or arth, it's essential to embark on an odyssey of discovery

Arth - A Culture Fest, aims to be the definitive platform to help attendees deep dive into India's culture. The advisory panel for the festival comprises a stellar group of achievers who have made their mark in various fields including writing, dance, journalism, activism, and promoting culture among the youth. They include authors Amish Tripathi and Hindol Sengupta; Sudhir Chaudhary, Editor-in-Chief, Zee News, Zee Business, DNA Newspaper, WION; Dr. Sonal Mansingh, Padma Vibhushan awardee, Member of Parliament - Rajya Sabha, and danseuse; Anuraag Saxena, Founder, India Pride Project and columnist; and Neerja Sarin, Member of the Advisory Council for SPIC MACAY. The Festival Director is historian and author Dr Vikram Sampath.

A quest for the truth

Describing what Arth – A Culture Fest stands for, founder Shreyasi Goenka says “Arth will inspire people to look inward and discover what we as Indians stand for, what we are forgetting, what we criticise and why and ultimately, how we can all move forward. Arth will aim to bind us together by discovering our common ethos and what binds us together.”

Interpreting the future through culture

Arth will be a platform for scholars, scientists, historians, artists, etc., who will come from all over the world onto one platform to debate, discuss and educate the gathering about the significance of appreciating culture and how important tradition is as we move into the future.

In addition to debates, panel discussions, and cultural performances, there will also be DIY workshops, where visitors can watch artisans at work and even pick up a few skills of their own under the artists’ expert guidance. There will also be specially curated programmes for children, who will be taught all about appreciating India’s rich culture.

The first leg of the festival kicked off with a satellite event in Kolkata in December. The main event will happen in Delhi from February 8-10 at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. Find the entire schedule for the festival here.

To be a part of the festival, register for free here.