G20 summit: Culture, craft, cuisine: India unleashes soft power at G20

Delhi is all decked up to welcome the delegates for the G20 Summit that will be held from September 9-10. The whole city has been filled with exquisite lightning with the G20 theme "One Earth, One Family, One Future". The Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan - the main venue of this gala event, has been illuminated and decorated with plants, flowers and other festive items.

According to an ET report, officials have decorated Delhi with flower pots, decorated artefacts, murals and fountains among others. The areas that have been decorated with pots and plants include Sardar Patel Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Dhaula Kuan-IGI Airport Road, Palam Technical Area, India Gate C-Hexagon, Mandi House, Akbar Road roundabout, Delhi Gate, Raj Ghat and the ITPO.

The country will focus on 3Cs - culture, crafts, and cuisine - to entertain global leaders at the G20 summit this weekend, officials told ET. Over 100 sculptures and 150 fountains, each with a unique design, have been installed to give Delhi a picturesque and modern look. The Delhi Metro has developed a pedestrian plaza with aesthetic landscaping outside the Supreme Court metro station, offering a serene space for visitors and commuters alike.

Graffiti featuring legendary figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Ahilyabai Holkar, Ahoms, Adi Shankaracharya, Maharana Pratap, and Rajaraja Chola now adorn railway bridges, adding a touch of history and culture to the cityscape.

A towering statue of 'Nataraja', believed to be the world's tallest, installed at the venue of the G20 Summit, has been made using an ancient casting technique. The statue, which is 28-foot tall including the pedestal, was made using the ancient lost-wax technique of metal casting that was used for making the famed Chola bronzes.

The G20 will showcase traditional Indian handicrafts at the G20 Crafts Bazaar, its official Twitter handle said in a post. "G20 Crafts Bazaar will bring together handicraft items from across India under one roof with a special focus on the One District One Product initiative. Leaders, delegates and accredited media persons from across the world will witness the exquisite skill and craftsmanship of Indian artisans."

Sculptures made of waste and scrap materials are being displayed across parks and roundabouts across the city ahead of the G20 Summit. Inspections are being carried out round the clock to ensure that all arrangements are in place.