A HIKE TRIP TO MOUNT ARAGATS: COMMEMORATING 68TH INDEPENDENCE DAY OF INDIA

To commemorate 68^th Independence Day of India, Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO (IAF) in collaboration with Embassy of India to Armenia organized a Hiking Trip to scale Mt. Aragats, which is the highest Mountain peak of Armenia.

Aragats, the highest mountain in contemporary Armenia, is a single extinct volcano with a crater, that has become an Ice Basin (About 400 m deep). This extinct volcano has formed 4 peaks; the northern peak is 4090m above sea level; the western, eastern and southern peaks are 4080m, 3916m, 3879m high respectively.

Mt. Aragats is also famous for its beautiful mountain lake KARI. It’s located 3250m above sea level having perimeter of 1150m.

While reaching the base-camp of Lake Kari, one can see the Tent-Homes of  Armenian Yezidis at different places in mountain range. According to one opinion, Yezidis are believed to be descendents of Indian Hindus.

It took almost 8 hours to complete the hiking trip from base camp to mount summit and back.

The whole team felt proud when they captured the victory moment of the group with respective national flags of both countries. 

Indeed it was a different celebration of India’s Independence Day!

PICNIC IN TSAGHKADZOR

The Travellers Club of IAF organized a whole day picnic with IAF members and Embassy of India staffs on 9th August 2014 in the resort town Tsakhkadzor!

Tsaghkadzor literally means valley of flowers in Armenian. The name of Tsaghkadzor is associated with the name of the nearby Tsaghkunyats Mountains, located to the west of the town. Tsaghkadzor is located 50 kilometers north of the capital Yerevan and 3 kilometers east of the provincial centre Hrazdan. Surrounded with alpine meadows, the town is situated on the southeastern slope of the Teghenis Mountains, at a height of 1841 meters above sea level.

The participants first took a local sight-seeing and the first was to visit Kecharis Monastery. It is one of the most important religious complexes of Eastern Armenia and one of the well-preserved medieval architectural samples of the Armenian Highland. It was founded at the beginning of the 11th century, consisted of 4 separate adjacent churches. The main church of the complex is the Saint Gregory Church built in 1033. The church of Surp Nshan built in 1051, is located to the south of Saint Gregory Church. The Katoghike Church built at the beginning of the 13th century, stands to the south of Surp Nshan Church. The fourth church of the complex is the Church of Surp Harutyun of 1220.

 The most sought-after tourist attention in Tsakhkadzor is Ropeway. The Tsaghkadzor ski resort is located just above the town, on a height of 1750 meters above sea level. During the recent years the ski resort was fully modernized. Those participants, who wanted to take a ride of famous rope-way, enjoyed it fully.

Few participants stayed at the picnic camp for preparing Khorovats (Barbeque).

The purpose of the picnic was to encourage the communication between India and local Armenian populace. The group had a great food and fun together in the cool and fresh environment of this resort town. People interacted with each other for a better mutual understanding of respective nations, their people and cultures.

IAF meets Critically Acclaimed Filmmaker Mr. Sourabh Sarangi

IAF Press Release

IAF meets critically acclaimed Filmmaker Mr. Sourabh Sarangi in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by IAF's President Mr. Rananjay Anand, Vice President Mrs. Ruzanna Ashughyan Anand and IAF's National Coordinator, India Mr. Karen Mkrtchyan. The team discussed many topics related to India & Armenia and emphasis was given on how film making can be part of this noble cause in possible future considering Films as strong medium of people-to-people connection in respective countries.

Mr. Sarangi's films have participated in many International Film Festivals across globe and have garnered great applause and winning awards in documentary category. His Film ""CHAR...No Man's Land"" has won "Dubai International Film Festival 2012 " and Film "BILAL" has won "Yamagata International Documentary Festival Japan 2009". Recently Mr. Sarangi participated in "GOLDEN APRICOT Yerevan International Film Festival 2013" in Yerevan.

Both sides underlined the importance of films in mutual development of people-to-people relationship in understanding respective cultures and discussed the possible partnership towards collaborative works.

About Mr. Sourabh Sarangi

INDIAN CULTURAL DAYS in Tavush

Continuing the tradition of taking the group photo exhibition “India through the Armenian Lens” to the different cities of Armenia «Indo-Armenian Friendship» NGO in association with the Embassy of India organized the exhibition in Ijevan, Tavush marz (region).  

The exhibition is a part of “Indian cultural days in Tavush” program dedicated to the 66^th anniversary of Indian Independence. The opening ceremony started on 9^th of August at “Vernatun” galleri, Ijevan. This time the exhibition was not only including the photo collection of previous exhibitions but also paintings of two Armenian artists Vardan Avetyan and Vladimir Soghomonyan under a different group exhibition titled "Mystic reflections of India".

The distinguished guests of the opening ceremony were Ambassador of India in Armenia, Dr. Suresh Babu, Vice-Governor of Tavush region Mr. Levon Sargsyan, Mayor of Ijevan Mr. Vardan Ghalumyan and chief of department of Culture at the municipality of Ijevan Mrs Lilit Ghalumyan. 

The opening speech was given by Lusine Toroyan genral secretary of «Indo-Armenian Friendship» NGO. She presented the purpose of organizing the exhibition and welcomed all guests on behalf of the president and vice-president of the NGO Mr Rananjay Anand and Mrs Ruzanna Ashughyan.  

Thanking the organizers for initiating the project “Indian cultural days in Tavush” the distinguished guests mentioned especially the necessity of organizing more and frequent events dedicated to the friendship of the two respective countries. 

Afterwards the audiences were invited to the Cultural House of Ijevan where in the framework of the project Indian films of various genres will be screened with Russian dubbing.

The events will continue till the 15th of August – India’s 67^th Independence Day.

The program is supported by the Embassy of India in Armenia, Municipality of Ijevan and Ijevan wine-brandy factory.

"India Through the Armenian Lens" in Gyumri

Our readers might remember in January 2012 IAF organized a Group Photo Exhibition titled “India through the Armenian lens” which took place at Naregatsi Art Institute and lasted 10 days instead of planned 3 days due to many requests.

Taking into consideration the great success and response that had the exhibition as well as realizing the importance to keep the population of other parts of Armenia too informed about the activities our NGO is trying to realize, we decided to take the same Photo-Exhibition to other parts of Armenia and in that series IAF decided to take it to Gyumri, the second largest city in Armenia.

The exhibition was organized in collaboration with Gyumri branch of Kasa Foundation. The opening ceremony of the exhibition took place at the Kasa Community and Training Centre Gyumri on June 15^th, 2013.

Honourable Ambassador of India to the Republic of Armenia Dr Suresh Babu and Mayor of Gyumri Mr Samvel Balasanyan were invited to grace the event as eminent guests.

The ceremony started with national anthems of both the countries which were followed by Indian tradition of lamp lighting.

The president of Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO welcomed the guests and the visitors and introduced them the aim and significance of organizing the exhibition. The distinguished guests greeted the organizers and expressed their gratitude for organizing such events especially out of Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia.  The representative of Kasa Foundation Ms Susanna Grigoryan in her welcome speech to the visitors and the guests ensured everyone that in future also there will be collaborations with IAF.

Welcome speeches were followed by wonderful performance of traditional Armenian dances by “Sasun” folk dance group and a surprise performance of a Hindi song by an IAF member Felix Gharibyan.

The goal of this Photo Exhibition was to represent the cultural and historical marvels of India shot by common travellers from Armenia to India. Every year many travellers visit India in different capacity, be it as tourists, as students or as businessmen. They visit India and bring memories back to Armenia. It’s their view of India which they see through their camera lens and share with their loved ones. And through these images India enters into the heart of Armenian people. This way we are emphasizing the very quintessence of people-to-people connection between two great ancient civilizations of the world.

This time the collection of the photographs was supplemented by collages made by Ms Marine Papyan which she made in India while organizing a visit of four Armenian artists to India in November 2012 by the invitation of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs.

The show continued till yesterday 22nd June, 2013 and is planned to take place in other cities and towns of Armenia to spread the message they are carrying to the entire population of the country.