Manmohan, Sonia to attend cultural event

Chandigarh, April 10 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will Friday attend the inaugural of the silver jubilee celebrations of zonal cultural centres in India at Panchkula town in Haryana.

A special arena in a village setting, named 'Matti ke Rang', depicting the rich Indian culture has been erected at the parade ground in Panchkula for the April 13-16 celebrations, officials said Tuesday.

A total of 1,873 artists from the country will enthrall the audiences with their performances at the celebrations, chief organizer and creative director Bansi Kaul told reporters here.

'The event is being organized on completion of 25 years of zonal cultural centres. This will be the beginning of year-long celebrations which would culminate in February 2013,' Kaul said.

The zonal cultural centres operate as hubs of culture all over India.

'A special show on north-east India would be organized on the third day of the celebrations,' Kaul said.