Shimla Celebrates — 150 Years of Summer Capital would be organised at Queen of Hills Shimla, the summer capital of British India for the entire year.
Theatre festival, mythological ballets, film festival and display of Army bands will be main attractions of the celebrations, Principal Secretary, language, Art and Culture Umpa Chaudhary said. From April 14 to April 20, national-level theatre festival will be organised on the occasion of birth anniversary of famous theatre personality late Manohar Singh.
She said that during the festival, plays by Neelam Mansingh, Rattan Thiem, Naseeruddin Shah, Waman Kendre and plays by National School of Drama would be presented. In the month of March, State level theatre festival will be organised from March 21 to 27 to commemorate the World Theatre Day on March 27. Selected theatre groups from Himachal Pradesh will present their plays.
Department of language, Art and Culture in collaboration with department of tourism and Shri Ram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, Delhi will present mythological ballets Karan, Durga and Meera on May 23, 24 and 25.
Film festival in collaboration with Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India will be organised from June 18 to 25. The Principal Secretary said that programme based on national integration will be the highlight on Independence Day August 15.
Shimla Music Festival would be held from September 21 to October 4, by language, art and culture department in collaboration with department of tourism and Punjabi academy. Christmas and New Year festivities would entertain the residents of Shimla and tourists from December 25, 2014 to January 1, 2015. Folk dance music would be the main attraction of the programme. In the months of May, August, November and December, 2014, Army Band will present various programmes to commemorate ‘Shimla Celebrates’.