India-Mexico : Joint Issue
Complete Set of 2 nos of commemorative postage stamps on the 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Mexico : Dances : Jarabe Tapatío and Kalbelia (Rajasthan) :
Issued by India
Issued on Dec 15, 2010
Issued for : India Post is happy to issue a set of two commemorative postage stamps celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Mexico.
Design : One of the stamps shows the Kalbelia Dance of Rajasthan in India. It is a vigorous dance form performed by women. The dancers embellish themselves in traditional black skirts with silver embroidery. The dance, set to folk songs, reminds one of the graceful movements of a snake. The sensual rhythm increases in tempo and vigour with the increase of the beat. Male participants take care of the musical part of the dance. They use different instruments (such as Pungi, Dafli, Been, Khanjari, Morchang & Dholak) to create the rhythm on which the dancer performs.
The other stamp shows the Jarabe Tapatio. Each region and state in Mexico presents the Mexican dance form in a style that reflects its own unique customs and traditions. The Jarabe Tapatio, or the Mexican Hat Dance, is one of the most beloved dance forms in Mexico and is considered as the national dance of Mexico. While the women wear the traditional china poblana, which includes a fringed blouse, a skirt and a shawl, the men are dressed in an ornate charro or cowboy suit. The dance gained immense popularity when the famous ballerina, Anna Pavlova, incorporated it in her repertoire.
Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation : Alka Sharma
Type : Stamps, Mint condition
Colour : Multi colour
Denomination : 2000 & 500 Paise
Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million each (0.3 million for normal distribution and 0.1 million for Sansad Marg H.P.O.)
Miniature sheets : 0.3 Million
Printing Process : Wet–offset
Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad
About :
- India and Mexico are old civilizations, both representing vibrant and pluralistic democracies that are multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious. Their relationship has traditionally been characterized by warmth, friendship and commonality of views on a wide range of issues. During India’s struggle for freedom, Indian leader Shri M.N. Roy found welcome refuge in Mexico, and co-founded Mexico’s Communist Party. A young Satish Gujral, in the 1950s, honed his painting and mural skills in close association with Mexico‘s most famous painters like Diego Rivera, Siqueiros and Orozco. Nobel-Laureate Octavio Paz was Mexico‘s Ambassador in India from 1962-68 and presented an authentic, insightful and vibrant face of India in his highly acclaimed book “Light of India“. Mexico made a valuable contribution to India‘s Green revolution with path breaking research and the famed “Sonora” wheat seed coming from Mexico to India. It is also significant that it was Pandurang Khankhoje‘s efforts in Mexico which made him an international authority on high yielding food crops, especially a new variety of corn.
- India and Mexico established diplomatic relations in 1950 and have since been leveraging their mutual strengths for each other’s common benefit and socio-economic development. A bilateral Joint Commission, established in 1984, at Minister of State (External Affairs) level, has the mandate to oversee and take forward all aspects of the bilateral relationship. To commemorate the completion of 60 years of Diplomatic relations, joint stamps are being issued. The stamps depict the costumes / dances of Mexico and India.
- Text : Based on inputs from Embassy of India in Mexico & Embassy of Mexico in India.
