With Bombay Love From Lille

The idea that Tracey Emin’s London home stretch, Brick Lane, should be recreated in a town in Northern France is pretty hard to grasp. That it has been translocated in order to celebrate the rich rhythm of Indian life and culture may seem even more bizarre. But that’s exactly what has happened in Lille where a reconstructed Brick Lane has become a major feature at the centre of its latest cultural happening -  the Bombaysers de Lille.

Trading on the success of Lille’s year as Cultural Capital of Europe in 2004, when 9 million visitors took part in over 2,500 events, the great and the good of the city decided to carry on celebrating right up to the next millennium in the guise of lille3000 - an ambitious project to lay on lavish new festivals in and around Lille and the Nord pas de Calais region to reflect societies and civilisations around the world. They are planned to take place every two years until the year 3000.

The first extravaganza – Bombaysers - runs from October 2006 through to January 2007, bringing a vibrant eruption of Indian culture guaranteed to blow the socks off Northern France for good and all.

The title is a play on words, as ‘baysers’ are kisses in French, perhaps implying that this particular Asian entente will prove more spicy than cordiale.

“Bombaysers de Lille means ‘With Bombay love from Lille’,” explained Catherine Cullen, deputy mayor of the Culture Department, Lille City Council. “It will be a bridge between our two very different countries and cultures, one we welcome with open arms and a warm embrace.”
And that gallic hug starts on October 14 with events themed around Diwili, the sacred Indian Festival of Lights, when Lille will burst into life in a sparkling whirl of dancing, drumming, food, fireworks and music celebrating the colour, passion and exuberant spirituality of India.

Described as an urban adventure, Bombaysers will feature the very best of all things Indian, from Bangra to Bollywood, as Lille immerses itself in a froth of festivals, exhibitions, contemporary artistic installations and spectacular displays reflecting the breadth of India’s cultural heritage – so rich and varied – which still thrives throughout the Indian disaspora.

It’s estimated that 4.5 million people originally from the Indian subcontinent now live in the UK, and that combined with the two countries’ strong and long cultural links makes Bombaysers de Lille a must-see event for cross-Channel visitors, according to Catherine Cullen. 

“With so much going on, we want people from England to make the short journey to Lille where they can discover its pleasures at first hand alongside the exotic sights, sounds and tastes of India, a foreign land on the other side of the world that has so much in common with the United Kingdom,” she said.

As Lille is only a one hour 40 minute rail journey on Eurostar from London Waterloo, within easy reach of the Channel ferry ports and EuroTunnel by car, and flights into Lille airport, English visitors might want to enjoy several great days out or make short break stays in the city during the event’s three-month run.

Cut costs by buying Pass Libre Acces or Full Access Cards. These 1, 2 or 3-day passes (15E, 30E and 45E) are available from the tourist offices and offer free access to all lille3000 venues as well as more than 30 tourist sites and services around Lille, plus unlimited use of transport on the Transpole underground, tramway and bus network, and discounts at shops, restaurants, city tours, regional trains and entertainments.

Bombaysers’ bright and cheerful jamboree will provide visitors with a wealth of theatre, art, literature, cinema, music, dance and circus shows, day and night, plus opportunities to taste traditional cuisine and confectionery created by specialist chefs – many working in London’s top Indian restaurants.
Don’t neglect the culinary delights of French and Flemish foods and drink while indulging in  Indomania. Lille is famous for the wide range of its local specialities served at the hundreds of restaurants, bars and cafes that crowd the city pavements.

Make the most of the Indian experience on foot, by cycle, tram and bus, or take a dik-dik Indian taxi-ride through the boulevards and squares to see an avenue lined with a dozen trumpeting elephants, a vast wedding gate and a series of oversized chandeliers, and watch giant statues of Asian deities parade in a riot of raw colour and sound along the streets.

Trawl the ethnic markets and fairs with their heady mix of exotic incense, foods and spices, or browse bustling bazaars to watch workshop demonstrations of dancing, Yoga, cooking, martial arts, fashion, textiles, Indian massage, storytelling and kitsch lurid poster art so beloved by Indian cinema Moguls.

There’s even an exhibition that compares London with Bombay (recently renamed Mumbai), from the everyday life and economic activities of their inhabitants to their shared colonial history and traditional celebrations in an attempt to second-guess the future for these colossal cities. Lille’s maison Folie de Wazemmes will be transformed into Brick Lane, the famous multi-cultural London melting-pot where peoples from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan live in a close-knit community that prides itself of its rich ethnic mix, and celebrities such as Tracey Emin, Moti Roti, Gavin Fernandes, Mukul Patel, Monica Ali and Banksy regularly rub shoulders with their East End neighbours.

Without doubt Bombaysers de Lille will have something for everyone to test, taste and try – then come back for more.

FACTFILE:
For a full programme of Bombaysers de Lille events and special offers, and to book tickets/day passes contact:-
lille3000 Office
105 Centre euralille
F-59777 Euralille
Telephone information and bookings on +33 (0) 3 59 57 94 00, or via www.lille3000.com

For all information about Lille and Lille Metropole and accommodation, contact:-
Lille Tourist Information Office
Palais Rihour
Place Rihour, BP 205/F-59002 Lille
Telephone +33 (0) 3 59 57 94 00
www.lilletourism.com – www.cdt-nord.fr
Direct hotel booking service via www.lilletourism.com or by Room net from www.cdt-nord.fr

Eurostar tickets can be booked through Rail Europe on 08708 034 862, or www.raileurope.co.uk  Return fares from London to Lille start at ?55 in standard-class.

30 August 2006