Ramayana Festival, Khadi Jackets as India Welcomes ASEAN Leaders at Republic Day

New Delhi: A Ramayana festival, Ramayana stamps, specially-made khadi jackets, topped by the Republic Day Parade will welcome the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders as India celebrates its 69th Republic Day.

The highest-level of participation at the summit on January 25, to mark the 25 years of Indo-ASEAN ties, comes in the backdrop of increasing Chinese economic and military assertiveness in the region.

The visit of the leaders of the ten ASEAN countries to be the chief guests at the Republic Day parade is "unprecedented" and a "landmark" event, Preeti Saran, secretary (east), Ministry of External Affairs, told presspersons.

Saran said the leaders will start arriving from January 24.

Saran said Ramayana is one of the common cultural link between India and Southeast Asia, and troupes from ten ASEAN countries have also been invited.

The idea of the festival was suggested by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the ASEAN-India summit in Manila in November 2017. The festival has been curated by top artists, reported Indian Express.

There will be troupes performing Ramakien in Thailand, Pha Lak Pha Lam in Laos, Yama Zatddaw in Myanmar, Kakawin Ramayana in Indonesia and Hikayat Seri Rama in Malaysia will be part of the festival.

It will also showcase the similarities of mudra (hand gestures) in our dance forms across ASEAN and India will also be showcased during this festival to be held in the capital’s Kamani Auditorium.

In addition, commemorative stamps based on Ramayana will also be released.

Before the summit, discussions will also be held between the working groups of India and ASEAN to step up the air and maritime connectivity, Saran said.

Leaders from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos and

Brunei will attend the summit.

Spouses of some of the leaders are also expected to come and a special programme is also being chalked out for them, said Anurag Bhushan, joint-secretary (ASEAN).

Sources said leaders will be given the choice of wearing Khadi jackets for either the leaders’ retreat or the gala dinner which will be held after the plenary session on January 25.