The beats of the tabla blending with the piano welcomed guests into a garden illuminated by hundreds of candles, with Delhi’s pleasant weather adding to the charm. Hosted by the Georgian National Tourism Administration and Georgian ambassador Vakhtang Jaoshvili, the intimate evening celebrated the friendship between Georgia and India while promoting Georgia as a tourism destination for Indian travellers.Music and food brought the two cultures together, with Bollywood classics such as Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, Yeh Shaam Mastani and Mere Sapnon Ki Rani sharing the playlist with Georgian compositions, including Yellow Leaves and Tbiliso.
Pianist Noushad Ashraf and tabla player Divyanshu played Bollywood classics such as Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, Yeh Shaam Mastani and Mere Sapnon Ki Rani alongwith Georgian compositions, including Yellow Leaves and Tbiliso
‘Raj Kapoor’s movies are among my favourites’An ardent Bollywood fan, the ambassador was familiar with every song on the evening’s playlist and even knew the films they featured in. “I love Indian cinema and have watched most Hindi classic movies, specifically Raj Kapoor’s movies. Some of my favourites are Shree 420 and Awara. Among the new ones, I love Devdas,” said the ambassador, who can even recite dialogues from Devdas.Given his love for Hindi cinema, it is understandable that Vakhtang is working towards promoting Georgia as a film shooting destination. He shared, “India is known for its film productions and whenever I get a chance I love visiting film studios, production houses, meet producers. With wonderful landscape, Georgia has a lot to offer for film shoots and we have been working to make the process of shooting convenient for filmmakers.”Tamar Koriauli, First Deputy Head, Georgian National Tourism Administration, added, “Georgia is becoming popular as a tourist destination among Indians and we are hopeful that when more people will see in movies what Georgia has to offer, many Indian travellers would visit those places.”
Tamar Koriauli, First Deputy Head, Georgian National Tourism Administration (right) with guests
A taste of Georgia with an Indian twistFood, an integral part of Georgian hospitality, was at the heart of the evening. The menu offered guests a taste of Georgia with a few Indian touches. From Pkhali, a traditional Georgian vegetable preparation served with pomegranate, to Khachapuri, the country’s popular cheese-filled bread, and Khinkali, Georgian dumplings with mushroom, cheese and chicken fillings, the spread introduced guests to some of Georgia’s best-known delicacies. The feast also featured desserts such as Georgian Pelamushi.