Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival is a yearly festival in Lucknow dedicated to the Late Indira Mahindra. From the beautiful array of weaves and crafts to the scrumptious plates of Awadhi cuisine- the festival is a kaleidoscope of culture and charm.
Every year a theme of historical and cultural relevance to Lucknow is chosen and is translated into oral, visual and experiential storytelling techniques.
Francisi Awadhi Ta'alluqaat (The French Connection with Awadh) was the theme for this year's festival. In their relatively short stint in Awadh, the French left a strong impression on the city through architecture, art, craft, performing arts and literature. The French aesthetic of opulence and luxury found resonance with that of the Awadhi Nawabs. What emerged from this Francisi Awadhi T'alluqaat is at the heart of the MSLF 2018.
A co-designed experiential exhibit brought some of the rarest eighteenth century paintings from all over the world to Lucknow. A walk through the exhibition left the onlookers spellbound and coaxed a reflection on the relevance and beauty of a different kind of exchange among people and societies.
All photographs courtesy Yashas Chandra
