A Preview Ceremony was held at the India Pavilion at Expo 2010, Shanghai on April 27, 2010. The pavilion with the theme of “Cities of Harmony"and featuring the world’s largest bamboo dome was formally introduced to the invitees and Media representatives by Dr. Subas Pani, Chairman & Managing Director, India Trade Promotion Organisation and the Commissioner General, India Pavilion.

Traditional lighting of the Lamp and offering prayers marked the ceremony. Dr. Subas Pani, Mrs. Riva Ganguly Das, Consul General of India at Shanghai, other invitees and dignitaries jointly lit the lamp.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pani highlighted the rich traditions, cultural persity and harmonious living in India. He also stressed the need for maintaining harmony with the environment and for maintaining the health of Mother Earth. This concept has been at the core of Indian thinking from times immemorial, he added.  

Indeed, sustainable development and use of eco-friendly materials has been the core principle of design, architecture and display at the India Pavilion, through use of solar panels, windmill, tree, plants, water cascade, earthen tiles and, above all, the extensive use of bamboo. Over 60,000 saplings, including many herbal medicinal plants, have been used in the roofing panels of the Pavilion. Incidentally, over 30 kms of bamboo has been used in constructing the Pavilion.

Welcoming the guests, Mrs. Riva Ganguly Das was nostalgic about the start of the project after she was handed over a barren piece of land by the Expo authority almost a year ago. She was happy to see the rapid progress of the project.

Mr. D.K. Nangia (Director –India Pavilion) thanked the Government of the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai Expo authorities, as well as all supporting organizations including Indian Missions in China and service providers for their support and cooperation in helping showcase Indian culture and scientific developments to the people of China.

Miss Yu Feifei a young native Chinese girl, enthralled the audience with her performances of Kathak and Bharatnatyam-Indian classical dances. She has been trained in these dance forms in India and China. Significantly, with its unique iconic 37 metre diameter bamboo dome, inspired by the Sanchi Stupa, the thematic area of India Pavilion is already attracting huge visitor interest including that of many dignitaries. The theme of India Pavilion is in line with the theme of the Expo ‘Better City, Better Life’.

Reinforcing the theme, the pavilion, covering an area of 4000 sq. mtrs., promotes energy efficiency through the use of solar panels and a windmill even as it has been designed as a zero chemicals area with safe runoff and no effluents.    

India’s  national  level participation in Shanghai World Expo 2010   (May 01-October 31, 2010) Shanghai,  China  is  being  organized by the  India  Trade  Promotion Organisation ( ITPO ) with the active support of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism, Consulate General of India, Shanghai and Embassy of India, Beijing.  

The India Pavilion is already complete in all respects. Even on the rehearsal day itself i.e. April 26, 2010, over 10,000 visitors, including a delegation of 40 members comprising of VIPs from China visited the India Pavilion. Huge crowds lined up outside the Pavilion and waited patiently for hours to get a glimpse of the unique display at the Pavilion.

The pavilion entrance depicts a carving of the ‘Tree of Life’ inspired by a stone carving from the ‘Siddi Syed Mosque’ at Ahmedabad.  The terracotta and stone floor is inspired by the palace at Rampur in Varanasi.

India’s National Day will be celebrated at the Expo on August 18, 2010. Throughout the period of Expo, a number of cultural troupes, arranged through ICCR from different regions of the country, will be performing both in ‘India Pavilion’ and at ‘Asia Square’.  There will be a special ‘Bollywood’ performance on July 17, 2010 at the Performance Centre at the Expo site.

A wide variety of specialized products, souvenirs, regional delicacies, etc. from various regions of India will be on sale at the exclusive shops and restaurants setup at the India Pavilion.    

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