Vadodara to host VadFest 2015 during 23-26 January – detail of events

Gujarat Chief Minister launching VADFEST website in presence of Saurabh Patel and a group of citizens from Vadodara at Gandhinagar on 10 November, 2014


Vadodara, 10 October 2014

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Click here to go to Vadfest page of Bookmyshow, the official online ticketing partner of Vadfest

Gujarat government has set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) known as Vadodara International Art and Culture Festival Authority to promote Vadodara as the state’s cultural capital and encourage tourism in the city.

Vadodara International Art and Culture Festival Authority head state Tourism and Finance Minister Saurabh Patel said Vadodara has the potential of becoming cultural capital of India. He further said that to promote tourism, a biannual Vadodara International Art and Culture Festival (VADFEST) would also be held, beginning from January 23 next year. The event will give a boost to tourism, hotel industry, real estate and also open doors for investment in industries, education and IT for the city.

He said, after promoting Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad as business destinations through Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit since 2003, the state government has decided to promote Vadodara as its cultural capital.

Vadodara International Art and Cultural Festival(VADFEST) 2015:
(Details shared in presence of Minister and local MLA Saurabh Patel, Municipal Commissioner Manish Bhardwaj, Maharaja Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, Sonal Mishra, Dr. Hitendra Patel and Industrialist Amit Bhatnagar)

-AR Rehman, Asha Bhosle, Sonu Nigam’s live concerts.

-Hema Manlini, Gita Chandran, Isha Sarvani’s dance performances.

-Hema Malini will presence dance titled as ‘Radha Ras Bihari.’

-Isha Sarvani will perform Shiv Shakti dance.

-Performance of flute by Shri Hariprasad Chaurasia.

-Performances of foreign artists.

-Wide publicity through newspapers, social media, jingles, website, films and radio.

-Online booking of all events proposed.

-Profit if earned from Vad Fest will go to Vad Fest authority. If there’s loss, the state government will absorb it.

-Private companies will sponsor the events.

-Ticket prices will be affordable to common people.

-A committee of the state government will monitor the events.

-5 km heritage walk in moon light is one of the programmes planned.

-Total 34 events will take place at 10 different places.

-Gujarat Tourism will run special buses to carry NRIs from Ahmedabad airport.

-Salim-Javed’s super hit movies will be shown in Inox multiplex.

-City’s town hall will host Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English drama shows. Directors Sharman Joshi, Anupal Kheid, Nasiruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Dharmendra Goyal, Tiku Talsania, Nina Kulkarni will perform from stage.

-Shabana Azmi’s English play ‘Broken Images’, Marathi play ‘Chhapa Kanta’ will be part of the series of events.

-Gujarati play ‘Mareez’ and Sharman’s ‘Raja Raju Ram Aur Mein’ are part of the series of events.

-Anpam Kheir’s play ‘Kuchch bhi ho sakta hai’ is part of the events.

-Kids festival planned under the title of ‘Snow White’.

-Vintage car show will feature an exhibition of vintage cars.

-Trained tourist guides will introduce visitors to city’s architecture and history.

-Royal cuisine will be introduced to people through royal chef including David Rocco. This event will be held at Navlakhi ground.

-Gulab Baug will host street food festival.

-Paintings and sculptures of 7 well known painting artists associated with the city of Vadodara will be show cased.

-Gujarat’s famous handicraft art, pottery, Kutchi textile, varieties of paghdis(turbans) will be exhibited under one roof.

-Rahul Sharma and Buddy wells fusion music event.

-Beauty and Beast will be showcased in Kids festival.

-Shillong chamber’s music concert.

-Theater appreciation workshop.

-AR Rehman’s concert will be held on 26 January.

-Geeta Chandran will dance on the topic of Ganshi.

-Ratna Pathak’s play ‘Walk in woods’ is part of the function.

-Shivam will present Trio music.

-Navlakhi ground will host two-week long national art and cultural festival and legendery art show which will incldue painting show, teachers art show in pushpabag, giant art show, back to the college alumni meet, art popup bazar, old photo print show in kirti mandir, paghdi show, Gaikwad history video presentation, paper work show in Mayfair art gallery and biggest vintage car show.

Total 36 events will be held at 10 different venues that include Navlakhi ground, Laxmi Vilak palace, Reliance Sports stadium, Manjalpur outdoor stadium, CC Mehta auditorium, various multiplexes, fine arts faculty and Kirti mandir.

On 23 January:Isha’s dance, Shabana’s play, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Snow white, Gulabi baug street food festival, Royal food festival,

On 24 January: Hema Malini’s dance, Raju Rajaram and Mareez plays, Rahul Sharma and Buddy Well fusion music, Asha Bhosle’s concert

On 25 January: Anupam Kheir’s play, Shillong Chamber’s music concert, Sonu Nigam’s live concert, Theater appreciation workshop

On 26 January: AR Rehman’s concert, Geeta Chandran’s dance, Ratna Pathak’s play, Shivam’s music performance

Update on 1 November, 2014

Core committee of VADFEST is chaired by Tourism, Civil Aviation minister Saurabh Patel. MoS Sports, Youth and Cultural activities Nanubhai Vanani, MP Ranjanben Bhatt, Mayor Vadodara Municipal Corporation, Secretary Sports, Youth and Cultural activities, Secretary Tourism, Secretary rural industries, Information Commissioner, Managing Director Indext -B, President Vadodara Chamber of Commerce are its members. Gujarat Tourism’s Managing Director and Tourism Commissioner are its member secretaries.

For permanent implementation, an execution committee has been formed led by Municipal Commissioner of Vadodara. International art and culture festival VADFEST will be held once in two years as per a decision made by Industry and Mines department of Government of Gujarat dated 18-10-2014. First edition of VADFEST will be held during 23-26 January.