CHENNAI: The 13th Non-Resident Indian Music and Dance Festival-2007, organised by Hamsadhwani, began here on Wednesday. Erwin Wendland, Deputy Consul-General of German Embassy, who was the chief guest, congratulated Hamsadhwani on organising a music festival that would help NRIs showcase their talents in their homeland. The festival was an opportunity for the NRIs to renew their cultural bond with their motherland. R.

Natraj, Additional Director-General (Investigation), State Human Rights Commission, who inaugurated the festival, suggested that the sabha institute an award for the best rasika. Bharathanatyam exponent V.P. Dhananjayan appealed to sabha authorities to construct an auditorium in memory of Hamsadhwani founder R. Ramachandran.