The world's longest new year party, shopping expo, Bollywood nite, adventure sports, health spa, cultural and craft shows, Indi-pop nights, boat cruises through lakewaters, festivals of films, food and flowers will mark the month-long Grand Kerala Festival in Kochi (December 22 to January 20, 2002). Organised by Zest Connect, in association with Impresario under the auspices of Kerala Tourism, the mega mela is expected to be the highlight of the ongoing tourist season in the state. According to the organisers the festival will open opportunities for tourists to get to know closely the essence of God's Own Country. For more details; call 95-0484-323514 or mail at info@grandkeralafestival.com or visit www.grandkeralafestival.com.

EXHIBITION
Memories Of a Born Dancer

Pavlova described Uday Shankar as "a born dancer with the finest dance body I've seen in any man in any country". Shankar's centenary exhibition and seminar is on. It is curated by dance critic Sunil Kothari, who recounts the life and times of the dancer through photographs, an experimental film Kalpana, and reminiscences of family and associates. On till December 31, 3 p.m. onwards daily. At Mati Ghar, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, Delhi.

MUSIC
Fresh Fare

Anu Malik is back with refreshing compositions for Filhaal, Meghna Gulzar's directorial debut. Asha Bhosle is exuberant with the title song taking one back to the time she sang for R.D. Burman. Another voice is that of Chitra's, which sparkles in Kyun baar baar. The movie marks the playback-singing debut of Indi-popper Palash Sen. Cost of each cassette: Rs 55.

BOOKS
Tracing The Past

To commemorate the tri-centenary of the Khalsa in 1999, the National Institute of Punjab Studies had taken up a major research project which involved locating and cataloguing relics popularly associated with Sikh gurus and other historical personalities. The Institute has now brought out a series of pictorial books under the Punjab Heritage Series-Maharaja Ranjit Singh, The Golden Temple, Anandpur, Pilgrimage to Hemkunt-written by Jaswant Singh Neki and Mohinder Singh with photographs by Sondeep Shankar. Each book costs Rs 375.