At the invitation of Mayor of Gimhae, Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan attended the 43rd Gaya festival at Gimhae on 18th April 2019.
The Gaya Culture Festival is a historical and cultural festival of Gimhae, the birthplace of the Gaya culture, which commemorates Kim Suro founder of Gaya Kingdom in A.D. 42, who married Heo Hwang-ok, an Indian princess from Ayut Kingdom in A.D. 48. This was the first known international marriage in the history of the Korean Peninsula. Gaya culture festival aims to preserve the culture, traditions and history of Gaya kingdom.
Ambassador delivered congratulatory remarks at the opening ceremony of the 43rd Gaya Festival, in which she highlighted the unique cultural ties between India and Gimhae, the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Memorial for Queen Heo in Ayodhya last year by the First Lady. Ambassador also appreciated the efforts of Gimhae in enhancing the culture ties by organizing annual essay competition on Queen Heo, hosting SARANG festival organized by Embassy and also for extending their support in commemorating 150th anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. Given the close cultural linkages and bonding with Uttar Pradesh, a delegation led by Mr.Sanjay Singh OSD to Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Dr. Yogendra Pratap Singh, Director, Ayodhya Research Institute from State Government of Uttar Pradesh also attended the Festival and delivered special remarks.
Prior to the opening ceremony, Ambassador met Mayor of Gimhae and discussed ongoing cooperation between India and GImhae and new areas of cooperation, including organizing commemorative events on the occasion of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Mayor of Gimhae also hosted a dinner for Ambassador on the occasion.
The 4-day cultural festival under the theme “ The splendid culture of Gaya, the spread of light”will have array of cultural programmes including King Suro’s parade, Gimhae rope pulling, Goyuje / Honbulchaehwa (Lighting of Marriage Flame),
