Bollywood comes to the Yorkshire Dales

THE glitz and glamour of Bollywood will arrive in the Yorkshire Dales later this month with the launch of a programme of events tying in with the staging of the eighth International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in the region.

As Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield, York and Hull welcome some of the biggest stars of Indian cinema to the awards, staff at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) have been busy organising a fun-filled package of things to do and see.

Karen Griffiths, the YDNPA's Interpretation Officer, said: "Obviously we are always looking for opportunities to promote the beautiful landscape of the National Park and, when it was announced that Yorkshire would be hosting the Bollywood equivalent of the Oscars, we immediately started planning how we could join in.

"Bollywood films have a tradition of featuring fabulous landscapes as part of the backdrops for the scenes in their romantic story lines. It seemed an ideal chance for us to showcase the romance of our landscape in the National Park."

The Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes will play host to a variety of activities including a stunning 'Love is in the Air' photographic exhibition from 20 May to 3 June comparing the National Park and Indian landscapes.

It will be accompanied by Asian love poetry and lyrics from famous Bollywood films and some kites made by a group of mums and children from Parkwood Primary School in Keighley and by members of Middleham Youth Club.

Some of our kites were made on St Valentine's Day and we hope to be flying them on the last day of the exhibition

Karen Griffiths - YDNPA

Karen said: "One of the romantic stories we liked the most was about the origins of kite flying in 16th century India.

"There is a lovely poem about a young man kept apart from the girl of his dreams who floated love messages across to her tied to a kite. Some of our kites were made on St Valentine's Day and we hope to be flying them on the last day of the exhibition - so love will definitely be in the air."

Other events at the Museum include Indian dance workshops, the chance to make Indian sweets and storytelling sessions.

Visitors to other parts of the National Park will have a choice of activities ranging from tea tasting able to see Indian folk dancing, henna hand painting demonstrations and a display of photographs of India.