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Navi Mumbai set to hold its first cultural festival in Jan ..........Vijay Singh I TNN
As you get off a train, imagine being greeted by resounding hard rock riffs from the railway station complexes at Vashi or Nerul. Or, a DJ night at the colourfully lit Utsav Chowk at Kharghar.
For the very first time, the 38-year-old city of Navi Mumbai is going to have its own festival on the lines of the Kala Ghoda. This is an effort to bring together the 1.8 million Navi Mumbaikars through art, culture, music, food mela and a marathon. The vice chairman and managing director of City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (Cidco), G S Gill, said, “The festival, which will be held from January 23 to 26 at multiple venues, is being called ‘Heart Of Living’ to celebrate the evolution of the city over the years.’’ “The festival will also serve as a unifying factor, to instil a feeling of oneness among its citizens,’’ said Gill. Bollywood singers Sunidhi Chauhan and Anushka Manchanda, composer Sandesh Shandilya, classical vocalist Shubha Mudgal, and a host of local and Mumbai-based artistes will perform during the fest at 12 venues. Citizens will also take a pledge to keep Navi Mumbai clean, green and safe. Palm Beach International Marathon, to be held on January 25, will also be part of the festival. The theme of the marathon is ‘Run Against Terrorism’. It will include a walkathon for senior citizens. For children, the festival promises scores of activities—from drills to dances and a workshop by theatre artiste Juhi Babbar. The festival organisers are also toying with the idea of a theme song. The closing ceremony will be held on January 26 at the Dr D Y Patil Stadium in Nerul.
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