Floating Taj Mahal starts London's India Now fest

By Serena Chaudhry

LONDON, July 17 (Reuters) - Londoners kicked off a three-month festival of Indian culture on Tuesday by welcoming a giant floating symbol of love from a former colony.

A replica of the Taj Mahal sailed past the Tower of London, Parliament, the London Eye and a host of the attractions alongside the River Thames to start the India Now festival, celebrating the food, fashion, art and film of India.

The festival which aims to strengthen the already considerable ties between London and Delhi, will put on more than 1,500 events, showcasing all aspects of Indian culture.

"This festival is all about love," said Bollywood art director Bijon Das Gupta, who created the Taj Mahal replica along with Indian artist Suchi Chidambaram. "The festival is to symbolise how people can come together."

As part of the festivities India Now plans to host the worldwide premiere of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's next film 'Chak de India' on August 9 and Indian designer Manish Arora's 'Fashion in Motion' exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum on September 7.

"This festival is to give Londoners a chance to see what India has to offer from its past and what it has to offer for the future," Mayor Ken Livingstone said. "India represents the future."

Other high profile events will include an outdoor spectacle of theatre and contemporary as well as classical Indian dance as well as the transformation of the busy shopping area, Regent Street, into a mini India complete with a Goan beach.

"India is the most culturally diverse country in the world, and London is the most culturally diverse city in the world, and it's about celebrating the two together," said Mark Prescott, who is director of cultural campaigns for the mayor's office.