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A roadmap to revive the prestigious ‘Little India’ district in the heart of Manama will be drawn up as India and Bahrain celebrate 50 years of bilateral ties, it has been revealed.
The ambitious project, announced as part of Bahrain’s three-year tourism strategy for 2015-2018, was launched in December 2015. However, it had to be put on hold owing to financial setbacks.
The aim was to turn the district near the celebrated 200-year-old Hindu Temple – a 5,000sqm area – into a place ‘which celebrates all that is Indian’. It featured a street with shops serving Indian food, coffee and tea, jewellery and souvenirs and a space showcasing Indian festival colours.
Flourish
“This is a wonderful time to revive the project – Little India – and we will set a roadmap to develop the area as envisaged,” Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) director general for culture and arts Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa told the GDN.
“The project was designed to be successful and as one to be worked on to bring to life various aspects of India and the shared sentiments of our two nations.
“As we celebrate the golden jubilee of our bilateral ties – we will be working on the project as well. The work requires time and once we start activities in the area, we are sure the project can organically grow and flourish.
“We are aiming to make it vibrant with activities and vendors that are in line with Indian colours, cuisine, art etc.”
Little India was first announced in August 2014, but due to a lack of government funding, the Indian community is being relied on for financial support. Organisers had initially envisaged a BD400,000 budget.
“Little India is a project which does not solely belong to the cultural authority, it also belongs to the people and hence we open our doors to hear from the community,” said Shaikha Hala.
“Those who are interested and have suggestions or ideas to make the place livelier may feel free to contact us.”
The Little India district incorporates three streets – Bab Al Bahrain Avenue, Al Tijjar Avenue and Al Hadrami Avenue (Temple Road).
Al Hadrami Avenue (Temple Road) which is part of the Little India district along with Bab Al Bahrain Avenue and Al Tijjar Avenue
Among the programmes designed under the project are planting trees, painting, maintaining and decorating the area, apart from preserving 14 historical Bahraini houses built with Indian wood. The idea is to make Little India a permanent fixture in the suq.
Indian Ambassador Piyush Srivastava echoed Shaikha Hala’s sentiments about the project, which is all set to go live with cultural performances in the coming days as part of the week to celebrate the India-Bahrain golden jubilee.
“Little India was inaugurated with a view to celebrate a place where Indian community has traditionally settled and to bring to life the values that the countries share,” Mr Srivastava told the GDN.
“This is an attempt to reach out to people, make it more vibrant and rejuvenating, and to take it forward.
“The next week of activities will be a start and in the coming days we will see the project spring to life as per its initial vision.”
The two diplomats were speaking to the GDN on the sidelines of a Press conference held to announce details of the celebrations marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bahrain and India.
Celebrations commence today with the iconic monument Bab Al Bahrain getting lit up in shades of the Indian tri-colour. Qutub Minar, a Unesco heritage site in New Delhi, will also be lit up in red and white representing the Bahraini flag.
Week-long programmes running until October 19 at the Little India Square, National Museum, Arts Centre and Cultural Hall will include talks, workshops and performances.
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