INDIAN CULTURE DAYS IN NYSA 2015

The second edition of the Indian Culture Days in Nysa has ended. The event that took place from 6 till 7 November 2015 in Nysa, was organized by the Polish Desk of the EuroIndia Centre in Nysa and Nysa Municipality, in collaboration with the Indo-European Education Foundation. Indian Culture Days in Nysa were continuation of the cultural initiative started in the previous year by organising EuroIndia Days in Nysa as a part of the official opening ceremony of the Polish Desk of the EuroIndia Centre in Nysa.

Indian Culture Days in Nysa 2015 were held under the honourable patronage of Indian Embassy in Poland. Our initiative received support and patronage also from the following prestigious institutions: Ministry of the Economy of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Ryszard Wilczyński, Marshal of the Opole Voivodeship; Mr. Andrzej Buła, Voivode of the Opole Voivodeship and the Association of Polish Cities. Prizes in the competitions for children were founded by: "Bezdroża" Publishing House, "Lambook" Publishing House and Intersnack Poland.

Just like the all activities of the Polish Desk of the EuroIndia Centre in Nysa, organizing Indian Culture Days in Nysa this year aimed in promoting and disseminating of vast, rich and colourful Indian culture among the inhabitants of our town and region as well as in opening new doors for establishing and developing bilateral cooperation with Indian educational, economic and local-government institutions, with future benefits for our town and University.

On 4th and 5th November the inhabitants and guests could see, taste and feel a bit of Indian culture in the special "Indian Tent", located in the town market. Indian tea - chai, writing names in Hindi, Indian music, henna tattoos, Indian clothes - all of this and more attractions were prepared for the visitors. Presentations and short videos presented richness of various cultures, languages, religions, customs and people - the variety, that is the essence of India. All those attractions were just a foretaste of the following days.
International conference concerning Indo-Polish cooperation in different fields was held on 6 November 2015, in the assembly hall of the UAS in Nysa, Regional Centre for Knowledge and Technology Transfer. During the conference, all participants had a privilege and honour to see and hear the presentations and speeches of many eminent guests. The event was graced by the presence of:

• Mr. Ajay Bisaria, Ambassador of India to Poland and Lithuania
• Mr. Prapeep Kumar, President of the Indo-European Education Foundation
• Mr. Michel Sabatier, Secretary General of the EuroIndia Centre in France
• Mr. Vishnu Mirpuri, Secretary General of the Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• Mr. Umesh Nautiyal, President of the Indo-Polish Cultural Committee
• Mr. Marcin Tatarzyński, Asia-Pacific Department, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affair of the Republic of Poland
• Prof. Zofia Wilimowska, Rector of the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa
• Mr. Kordian Kolbiarz, Mayor of Nysa
• Mr. Paweł Nakonieczny, Chairman of the Town Council in Nysa
• Entrepreneurs, Representatives of educational institutions and students.

Artistic impressions of the highest quality were given to the audience by our special guests from India and the star of the evening - Gujarat Art Academy.

Despite the conference, during that day the official meetings of the guests from India with the representatives of our town and region took place, including: Mr. Kordian Kolbiarz, the Mayor of Nysa; Mr. Czesław Biłobran, the Starost of Nysa and Mrs. Jolanta Barska from the Regional Centre for Knowledge and Technology Transfer at UAS in Nysa.

During the meetings the guests presented their cooperation offers not only in the field of culture, but also, what is more important, talked about collaboration of cities and self-government institutions as well as developing mutual business and economic relations between Nysa and Indian cities. Some declarations have been made, with a few invitations to conducting further talks about cooperation concerning Indian investments in Nysa as well as support for the export of local products to Indian market. The authorities of our Town and region received an invitation to visit India, where meetings with Indian industry and investors interested in locating their own production in Poland will be organised. On the following day of their visit to Nysa our eminent guests, including His Excellency Ajay Bisaria, were invited to see the site of the old FSD company. There they had an opportunity to learn about the history of that investment area and its big potential. We believe that the visit of our guests and those important talks will result in great economic benefits for our town and region in the near future.

In evening hours, following the invitation of Mr. Piyush Mittal, Director of the Sulisław Palace Hotel & SPA, a meeting was organised for guests from India and Warsaw. The discussion was concerning further cooperation of UAS in Nysa and IEEF with the Sulisław Palace during the next Indian Culture Days and other initiatives.

On Saturday, 7 November, The Polish Desk of the EuroIndia Centre in Nysa invited Nysa's inhabitants and guests to Nyski Dom Kultury (NDK, Cultural Community Centre in Nysa), where the cultural event, with many attractions corresponding to Indian culture was organised. All visitors of NDK could enjoy hearing and watching many presentations and performances of our guests and other cooperatives, including:

Mrs. Anna Kalata, Vice-President of the Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Former Minister of Labour and Social Policy (2006-2007). She is fascinated with culture and religions of Asia, which goes for India as well. In her book "Real Changing - My Elixir of Youth" she described her travels in India, but also her journey to find her inner self.

Mrs. Joanna Grzymkowska-Podolak and Mr. Jarosław Podolak, journalists and travelers, authors of the book "Fall in Love with the World. India". They gave a speech and presentation about experiences from traveling to India and their new book.

"Mayura" Indian Dance Group. In Sanskrit MAYURA means 'peacock'. The bird is the national bird of India and is highly respected and worshiped in this country, having a mythological origin. "Mayura" Group was created in December 2011 in Wroclaw and specialises in performing bharatanatyam - one of the oldest classical dances in India.

"Dzieci Orientu" Sylka Rayska Foundation. Founded in 2013, was created out of love and passion towards the pe ople nad cultures of India, Pakisthan and the other countries of Asia and North Africa. Its top priority is providing development al and humane help and support in the countries. On the main stage of NDK her Bollywood dance performance gave Ms. Joanna Ciosek - one of the volunteers. The other two volunteers that came to Nysa were Ms. Patrycja Mackiel and Ms. Ewa Strzelecka, who were making henna tattoos and preparing attractions for children.

The event was graced by the colorful and beautiful dance performance of Gujarat Art Academy - Indian dance group from Gujarat, India - An Institution for Dance, Drama & Music. It is an institution famous all over the word. The dancers perform and present traditional folk dances of Gujarat, promoting and disseminating the tradition and culture of their homeland.

Outside the main stage, in our "Indian village", many attractions were prepared, including: writing names in Hindi, henna tattoos, Indian make up, degustation of Indian tea and cuisine, various exhibitions, a corner for children, wearing Indian traditional clothes and jewelry, presentation about Indian culture and many others. In special "children corner" children could enjoy their time during face-painting, colouring Indian colouring books and making paper origami elephants.

Earlier that day, on the main stage of NDK a dance contest for children was organized. Among the participants were children from kindergartens, primary schools and various dance groups. During the event the prizes for the dance competition and artistic contest were presented as well:

Winners of the artistic contest "India - culture, architecture and landscapes":

I - Martyna Wierna - SP nr 1 w Głuchołazach (Primary School No. 1 in Głuchołazy) - teacher Jolanta Kowalik- Kulig
II - Maria Gawłowska - SP nr 3 w Nysie (Primary School No. 3 in Nysa) - teacher Jagoda Marfiany
III - Aurelia Kawka - SP nr 5 w Nysie (Primary School No. 5 in Nysa)) - teacher Danuta Iwanicka
Kindergartens - all participatns won (Publiczne Przedszkole nr 2 w Paczkowie, ZSP w Białej Nyskiej,
Przedszkole nr 12 w Nysie, Przedszkole nr 14 w Nysie, Przedszkole nr 9 w Nysie)

Winners of the Indian dance competition:

I - SP1 w Głuchołazach (Primary School No. 1 in Głuchołazy) - teacher Wiesława Migała
II - PLASTUSIE - ZSP w Białej Nyskiej (Primary School in Biała Nyska) - teacher Małgorzata Stećko
III - SZOK- Gimnazjum nr 2 y Nysie (special Dance group)- teacher Beata Ciastoń

Indian Culture Days in Nysa in Media:
nysa.eu
nysa.fm
nysa.naszemiasto.pl
i.nysa.pl
www.facebook.com/IndiaInPoland
Articles in NTO/Akademicka, Nowiny Nyskie, relacja w Radio Opole i Radio Nysa

Aleksandra Nędza
Polish Desk of the EuroIndia Centre in Nysa