India-Iran Cultural Week kicked off in the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF) on Thursday, June 7. Handicrafts, Indian tea and music were the symbols of India's civilization and culture sparkling in the week-long event however books, which bridge Iran and India's culture and civilization, were left behind.

IBNA: India-Iran Cultural Week is hosting its visitors with the warm participation of Indian and Iranian figures active in the field of Iran and India's culture and displaying Indian painting, photos, costumes, handicrafts and other related artistic works.

During the week-long event Indian music will eco in the Iranian Artists Forum and those who will have a chance to visit, will experience the taste of the Indian tea. Moreover Iranian artists have presented their photos and painting themed on India.

But the cultural week lacks books. However several sessions including "Persian literature in India" and "Iran-India literary, civilization and cultural ties" are supposed to be held but considering the fair's title and the week-long conference, it seems that the lack of stall, offering books penned by Iranians about India's religions, arts and culture as well as Indian books which are rendered into Persian and Iranian books which have been translated by the Indians, is felt.

Only two book titles are being presented in the Indian tea part entitled "Bhagavad - Gita: as it is" and "The Hare Krishna Art of Vegetarian Cooking".

"The Hare Krishna Art of Vegetarian Cooking" is released bilingually (English and Persian) in Iran.

India-Iran Cultural Week's opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of India-Iran Cultural Week was held on Thursday, June 7, with the participation of Manouchehr Mottaki, Former Iranian Foreign Minister, Hassan Bolkhari, professor of art's philosophy, the Indian Ambassador to Iran, H.E. Shri D. P. Srivastava as well as some artistic and cultural figures.

During the ceremony, Bolkhari said:" The Muslims and Iranians helped India's culture a lot and on the other hand they used India's outstanding thoughts. Throughout the history, a mutual relation existed between Iran and India in the field of art, culture and wisdom. Some times the Iranians used all their efforts in using Indians thoughts while sometimes they translated our books into Sanskrit."

In other news, Manouchehr Mottaki said that Iran-India week is a golden opportunity.

India and Iran have a lot to say. The past and the present should be bridged and the most lasting bridge between the nations is the field of culture, he noted.

Moreover his book entitled Asian convergence holding his experiences of living and studying in Iran is to be released.

India-Iran Cultural Week will conclude on Tuesday, June 12.

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