Celebrating 60 years of Indo-German diplomatic relations, a collaborative celebration is on from September 2011. This will go on till 2013 and the centrepiece of the celebration is the Urban Mela.
After travelling Mumbai and Bangalore, the Urban Mela came to Chennai in the last week of August 2012.
The Mela was held at the YMCA College of Physical Education in Nandanam This mela focussed on the German Industry and German Science concepts and models for the city of the future and the future of the city in 14 artistically designed pavilions. The visitors to this mela also had an experience of rich fair of cultural events.
‘Infinite Opportunities’ has been the motto of the Year of Germany 2011-2012. Infinite Opportunities has been reflected in the diversity of their programmes,too,since September 2011 in Chennai right through India. The programmes were,and still are,focused on “City Spaces” with the aim of developing the necessary vision for our cities to be more livable. They staked their claim to the public sphere in Chennai through exhibitions,music events discussions on Urban Development and much more.
This mela was the highlight event of the Year of Germany.
There was something for everyone – workshops for children and adults, storytelling sessions, music shows and concerts, artistic installations, information on language learning and higher education in Germany, science lab, contests… There were also many Indo – German delicacies served at the mela.
A lot of schools took their students to visit the innovative solutions pavilions of the German companies like Siemens, Bosch, LAPP, BASF and it was no wonder the school and college students found the mela useful and interesting.