Bahrain: A Project to create a “Little India” in Bahrain will be officially launched on Saturday, but organisers say more financial support from the community is needed to keep it going long term.
The initiative is spread over an area of 5,000 square metres and organisers plan to stage regular markets, fashion shows and cultural performances in the heart of Manama suq.
It incorporates three streets – Bab Al Bahrain Avenue, Al Tijjar Avenue and Al Hadrami Avenue (Temple Road) – and intends to bring the colour and culture of India to life.
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will join Bahrain Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa at the launch, taking place from 5pm to 9pm at a special venue near the Hindu
Temple.
The launch is part of a series of National Day activities lined up by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), which co-ordinated with Indian cultural association Sanskriti on the project.
Little India was first announced in August last year as part of Bahrain’s tourism strategy for 2015-2018, but a lack of government funding means the Indian community is being relied on for financial support.
Organisers had initially envisaged a BD400,000 budget, but Little India project manager and BACA senior exhibition specialist Frances Stafford told a Press conference at the Hindu Temple yesterday that the fund was no longer available.
“After Little India is unveiled, we intend the community to take on from there and ensure its sustainability,” Ms Stafford told the GDN.
“Last year when we planned the project, we had budgeted BD400,000 for it, but unfortunately we haven’t got even a fraction of the money and we are launching the project on a minimum budget.
“We had to do massive changes in the area like painting, maintenance jobs and planting of trees – apart from preserving 14 historical Bahraini houses in the area built with Indian wood.
“All of this has been done with limited available funds.
“We need support from the community, which we see is excited about the project – but is yet to pitch in any funding.
“The community needs to know that to sustain this project we need funds and we might need at least BD100,000 to BD200,000 annually now on to sustain the project as we envisage.”
She explained the idea was to make Little India a permanent fixture in the suq and all were welcome to participate. A film shedding light on Indo-Bahraini ties and pearl trade links will be unveiled during the opening ceremony.
“The film will picture the Moti Bazaar, the entrance point to the suq during yesteryear where traders used to buy and sell pearls and will capture some interesting and nostalgic reflections from the past,” said Ms Stafford.
BACA plans to appoint a committee to oversee the Little India project, which Indian Embassy first secretary Ram Singh said symbolised Bahrain’s history of embracing other cultures.
“Little India is a sign of Bahrain’s respect for diversity, which it shares with India,” he said.
“The project is an honour for every Indian on this island.”
To participate in Little India contact BACA on 17298777.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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