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Feature: Festival of lights illuminates Riga on eve of Latvia's Independence Day

Xinhua, November 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

Staro Riga 2016, the annual international festival of lights, is kicking off in Riga Thursday night, on the eve of Latvia's Independence Day, to illuminate the capital city with its 42 shiny installations and artworks throughout the coming weekend.

Unlike in previous years, about half of the objects that will light up in the city as part of the festival are interactive, which means that people will be able not only to watch the objects but also engage in creative interaction with them, organizers said.

"The festival is one of our ways to celebrate the Independence Day holiday, and I find it to be a very good way," said the festival's curator Diana Civle.

"As we take a stroll through Riga with our friends and families, we can see the city in a slightly different light and spend a great time together," said Civle.

The theme of this year's lights festival "The Light Dawned" is a line taken from a very popular Latvian choir song.

The Saro Riga 2016 festival, which runs from Nov. 17-20, will offer several programs to the city's residents and guests.

In addition to the main program, "The Light Dawned", there will also be an international program featuring objects created by artists from Lithuania, Canada, Japan, Australia, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, and Lebanon.

Various organizations, institutions and private enterprises will take part in the "Riga Carnival" program, installing lit-up objects across the city.

One special group of light installations has been created to illuminate the facades of buildings in the city center and the old town, the organizers informed.

Some of the art objects that will be put on display across the city during this year's festival of lights are intended to encourage reflection on various sensitive issues like the plight of refugees, social prejudices, etc.

Over the years, the Staro Riga festival, which is in its 9th year already, has become one of the most popular and visited cultural events in Riga. Endit