Cultural bonding will precede our business in Iran. We would like to play the cultural ambassador by showcasing Odishi and other Indian performing arts in Tehran first,” said Nalco CMD TK Chand.
“Cultural exchanges are a precursor of goodwill and mutual understanding, paving the way for any industrial joint venture,” Chand added. He was addressing the 19th Gunjan Dance & Music Festival, which concluded in Cuttack on Friday.
The Nalco would also institute King Kharavel Awards to felicitate an Odishi guru and an Odishi dancer every year with cash prize of `1 lakh and `50,000, respectively, along with gold medals and citations, on the company’s foundation day, starting from January 7, 2016, Chand informed the gathering comprising artists from India and abroad as well as connoisseurs of various dance forms.
The dance recital by noted artists Meera Das and Datuk Ramli Ibrahim was the highpoint of the three-day festival held at the Sahid Bhavan. Renowned painter Dr Dinanath Pathy was felicitated by Chand on the occasion.