Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the first International Kala Mela at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts in New Delhi on Sunday evening. <br/><br/>The objective of the event is to focus on direct interaction between the artist and the connoisseur and also educating and raising awareness about art. <br/><br/>This is for the first time that the Lalit Kala Akademi has planned the International Kala Mela at such a large scale which will continue till the 18th of this month. <br/><br/>More than 800 artists from all over the country are expected to participate in the event. <br/><br/>Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Naidu stressed the need for promoting a greater understanding and appreciation of the cultural diversity around the world. <br/><br/>He said the culture is like the heartbeat of a civilization and it is an expression of its worldview and a symbol of its value system.