After a year of developing Culture for Peace as a project, we organized a series of events in Kathmandu (Nepal) in November 2010: SANSKRITI FESTIVAL 2010.

With support from local artists and grass-roots organisations, we organised the festival in order to raise our voice for peace, justice and cultural exchange.

The first event took place at Garden of Dreams on November 12th and brought on stage popular instrumental folk ensemble Kutumba. As a further highlight two band members of 1974 AD - Manoj KC and Nirakaar Yaktumba - joined for a musical jam session beyond cultural and artistic borders (Kutumba band members originate from different ethnic groups). To underline cultural exchange, Aden Ward from Ireland also performed with the band on stage. The concert was preluded by a documentary screening which brought to tears many of our guests and visitors. The movie "Schools in the Crossfire" by famous Nepalese film maker Durba Basnet showed the consequences of the civil war on education and the life of children and families. The charity event was framed by a delicious snack buffet from Dwarika hotel while the guests felt amazed by the scenery of neo-classical Garden of Dreams. The motto thus: Live your dreams for a more peaceful world!

On November 20th, SANSKRITI FESTIVAL 2010 continued with presenting a great variety of cultural highlights at Moksh: An interactive theatre group from remote district Banke in the midwestern region of Nepal travelled to Kathmandu to perform the peace drama 'Khoj' on the c4p stage. Furthermore, the artists Saurganga Darshandari, Sushma Shakya, Jupiter Pradhan, Sunita Maharjan, Mekh Bahadur Limbu, Bhuvan Thapa developed and performed a touching and thought provoking interactive contemporary art performance. The event closed with a musical performance by well known band Albatros.

SANSKRITI FESTIVAL 2010 was a successful start in enriching the stagnating peace process with a new and creative approach to bridging gaps between people. The presented art and cultural forms did not only convey a strong message for peace and reconciliation but were also characterized by high artsictic quality.

We thank our partners Lasanaa-alternative art space, Kathmandu Contemporary Art Center(KCAC) , Moksh and Durba Basnet, Images Nepal (film review here). Without them the whole event would not have been possible.