The twelfth edition of the Summer Mela Indian culture festival is preparing to conquer Rome and Zagarolo from 21st to 30th June. Promoted by the Alain Daniélou Foundation and produced by Kama Productions, this event aims to disseminate refined Indian traditions through concerts, workshops, dance performances and film screenings, combining traditional elements and contemporary research. The event is free and open to all, with a paid dance workshop.
Summer Mela: celebration of Indian culture
Summer Mela takes its name from the Sanskrit term “Mela,” which means collective gathering and celebration. This term is especially famous for the Kumbh Mela, a religious event that attracts millions of pilgrims to the sacred places of the Hindu tradition. The festival presents itself as a moment of celebration and discovery, inviting the public to immerse themselves in the best artistic expressions of India, both traditional and contemporary.
This year’s festival will kick off on June 21, coinciding with Music Festival and International Yoga Day. At 6.00 pm, the gardens in front of Castel Sant’Angelo will host a yoga session open to all, led by Riccardo Serventi Longhi. Following this, starting from 8pm, the public will be able to attend a concert of classical dhrupad music performed by vocalist Sumeet Anand Pandey, accompanied by Parminder Singh on pakhawaj and Ritika Pandey on tanpura.
Two unmissable evenings of music and cinema
On June 25, Summer Mela will move to the Casa del Cinema for an evening dedicated to Indian classical music and cinema. At 7pm, Sabir Khan on sarangi and Heiko Dijker on tabla will offer a performance entitled “Sound of the great Indian Desert.” This concert will recapitulate the fascinating sounds of the Indian desert, transporting the audience on an extraordinary sonic journey.
After the concert, at 9.00 pm, it will be the turn of the feature film “Court” by Chaitanya Tamhane (2014), screened in the original version with Italian subtitles. The film, which explores the complexities of the Indian judicial system, will be presented by Adriano V. Rossi, president of ISMEO, and Riccardo Biadene, artistic director of the Alain Daniélou Foundation and Kama Productions.
Dance and cultural performances in Zagarolo
The festival will culminate on June 30th with a dance show in the historic rooms of Palazzo Rospigliosi in Zagarolo. At 7.00 pm there will be a performance of Odissi and Bharatanatyam Dance starring Sooraj Subramaniam, a well-known international dancer and choreographer. The evocative Hall of Frescoes will be the backdrop to this exhibition, where Emanuela Panzironi, mayor of Zagarolo, and Cekeste Peronti, President of the Palazzo Rospigliosi Institution, will also be present, together with representatives of Kama Productions and the Gamaka Association.
In conjunction with the festival, an Odissi style Indian Dance Workshop will be organized, held by Sooraj Subramaniam, which will be held on 29 and 30 June. Anyone wishing to participate must book by June 25th by contacting the Gamaka Association. This workshop represents a unique opportunity to delve into the techniques and expressions of Indian dance under the guidance of an internationally renowned master.
Useful information
Summer Mela festival events are free and open to all. The dance workshop with Sooraj Subramaniam, which will be held on 29 and 30 June, is paid; to participate you must book by June 25th through the Gamaka Association. Event times are as follows:
- June 21st: Yoga session at 6pm, followed by classical music concert at Castel Sant’Angelo at 8pm.
- June 25th: Indian classical music concert at 7pm at the Casa del Cinema, followed by the screening of the film “Court” at 9pm.
- June 30th: Odissi and Bharatanatyam Dance Show at 7.00 pm in the Fresco Room of Palazzo Rospigliosi, Zagarolo.
For further information about the festival and how to participate, the official website is summer mela foundation alain danielou.
