A captivating Khon performance of ‘Hanuman The Mighty Warrior’ enthralled audiences at Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata.
Kolkata – the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata, in partnership with the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi and Victoria Memorial Hall, hosted a Khon performance titled ‘Hanuman The Mighty Warrior’. This event celebrated Thailand’s rich cultural heritage and performing arts, featuring artists from the Bunditpatanasilpa Institute of Fine Arts, Department of Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture. The performance aimed to enhance cultural appreciation and strengthen the deep-rooted ties between Thailand and India.
The event was honoured by the presence of Dr. CV Ananda Bose, Governor of West Bengal, and his spouse, Mrs. Lakshmi Bose, as Guests of Honour. Other notable attendees included Mr. Indranil Sen, Minister-of-State for Tourism and Culture, and Ms. Nandini Chakravorty, Home Secretary and Tourism Secretary.
They were warmly welcomed by Miss Siriporn Tantipanyathep, Consul-General of Thailand in Kolkata, and Mr. Samarendra Kumar, Curator and Secretary of Victoria Memorial Hall. Over 300 distinguished guests attended, including members of the consular corps, representatives from Indian government and business sectors, travel associations, academic institutions, Friends of Thailand, and local media in Kolkata.
Miss Siriporn Tantipanyathep remarked, “The Festival and the Khon performance is not just a celebration of Thailand’s cultural beauty but also an opportunity to deepen the bonds of friendship and mutual appreciation between Thailand and India.”
Mr. Samarendra Kumar added, “Victoria Memorial Hall aims to reclaim public space, democratize the arts, and foster cultural exchange with international partners to showcase intangible cultural heritage.”
This event provided a unique platform to showcase Thailand’s cultural heritage to both local and international audiences in Kolkata, reinforcing the enduring cultural ties between Thailand and India. The Ramakien, Thailand’s national epic, traces its origins to the Indian Ramayana, and this Khon performance served as a tribute to the shared cultural heritage of both nations.
As part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ cultural diplomacy efforts, the initiative sought to enhance people-to-people connectivity, laying the foundation for future cooperation in various aspects between Thailand and India.
The ‘Namaste Thailand Festival’, now in its sixth consecutive year, began earlier this February with the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi hosting the festival, featuring this Khon performance before extending the program to Kolkata. This continuation aims to further promote Thailand’s rich cultural heritage and provide local audiences with the opportunity to experience the refined artistry of traditional Thai performance firsthand.
