A festival of Indian culture is being held in Cumbrian libraries in March and early April.
'Reading India' aims to promote books by Indian authors, and books about India as well as Indian culture and traditions.
The intitiative is part of Cumbria County Council's Reader Development project and will feature book displays in all the county's six major libraries. A booklist has been printed in the format of a restaurant menu to give a flavour of the country's rich diversity of literature and writing.
The following workshops and activities will take place at each library:
• Henna tattoos (using natural henna, not chemical)
• Sand painting
• Indian food tasting
• Bindi art
• Jewellery making workshop
• Indian head massage.
"Indian culture is one of the oldest and richest on the planet and also plays a major part in modern British life. The Reading India festival will help new people experience that culture," said Councillor Roger Bingham, cabinet spokesman for Cumbria County Council's library service.
“There’s mutual benefits stemming from the Anglo-Indian relationship –without India, words such as bungalow, dungaree, pundit, juggernaut, pyjamas, dinghy, bazaar and shampoo would never have entered the English language. Indian cuisine is now standard fare in the UK and, of course, India loves cricket,” said Councillor Bingham.
A festival of Indian culture is being held in Cumbrian libraries in March and early April.
'Reading India' aims to promote books by Indian authors, and books about India as well as Indian culture and traditions.
The intitiative is part of Cumbria County Council's Reader Development project and will feature book displays in all the county's six major libraries. A booklist has been printed in the format of a restaurant menu to give a flavour of the country's rich diversity of literature and writing.
The following workshops and activities will take place at each library:
• Henna tattoos (using natural henna, not chemical)
• Sand painting
• Indian food tasting
• Bindi art
• Jewellery making workshop
• Indian head massage.
"Indian culture is one of the oldest and richest on the planet and also plays a major part in modern British life. The Reading India festival will help new people experience that culture," said Councillor Roger Bingham, cabinet spokesman for Cumbria County Council's library service.
“There’s mutual benefits stemming from the Anglo-Indian relationship –without India, words such as bungalow, dungaree, pundit, juggernaut, pyjamas, dinghy, bazaar and shampoo would never have entered the English language. Indian cuisine is now standard fare in the UK and, of course, India loves cricket,” said Councillor Bingham.