Capturing paradise
What: Imagine a remote valley high up in the western Indian Himalayas, abutting Tibet. A valley that at various times in history has been part of the Tibetan realm, one hundred per cent Buddhist. A valley abounding in fossils of maritime inhabitants of the prehistoric Tethys Sea and with a stunning moonscape. A valley that is a world within a world, they call Spiti. It derives its name from a combination of two local words – bi (hidden) and ti (water/river/valley), though some believe it is rooted in chiti (paradise). Capturing this paradise, a selection of photographs taken over a period of 20 years is on display at an exhibition titled ‘Spiti – Paradise Unveiled’. Taken by photographer Kishore Thukral, the online exhibition is divided into five sections – Gateway to Paradise; The Incredible Moonscape; Life in Paradise; The Lamaseries of Paradise; and Serene Snowscapes. Spiti’s history is, for the most part, unrecorded, yet it boasts a priceless heritage and a landscape that presents a frame wherever you turn your camera.
When: 2-15 November
Where: Website of India International Centre
European touch
What: With 41 award-winning movies from 26 European countries, this year marks the 25th anniversary of The European Union Film Festival in India and for the first time goes digital. The festival is an annual event celebrating the diversity and depth of European cinema and culture. In this very special edition, the Festival will feature outstanding, award-winning films from across Europe, celebrating the most recent cinematic triumphs at Cannes, Locarno, Venice, Berlin and San Sebastian, amongst others. Highlighting individual stories yet reflecting universal experiences, the films offer a window into the heart of Europe and provide a unique look at the power of cinema to negotiate both quotidian and extraordinary circumstances. 15 remarkable female directors will feature in the Festival line-up, offering trailblazing and evocative perspectives. The line up includes The Ground Beneath My Feet, Martin Eden, And Then We Danced, and Megha’s Divorce and many more. Access to the films is free for all. To watch the films, register through the platform partners Festival Scope or through the delegation’s website.
When: 5-30 November
Where: Website of India Habitat Centre
Laughter fest
What: After hitting over a million views on his YouTube channel, Munawar Faruqui is coming to Gurgaon with his stand-up comedy solo “Dongri to Nowhere”. You will laugh your hearts out as he does his hilarious jokes on social media, politics, Bollywood and The Muslim Life which will take a direction you never expected it to go. This show has nothing to do with Dubai, it will take you on a journey of Munawar’s life experiences from Gujarat to Dongri “and now to nowhere”.
When: 20 November
Where: Imperfecto Ruin Pub, Delhi
