Students at the exhibition. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha

Kalimpong, Nov. 6: A photography exhibition aimed at strengthening the cultural bond between India and Russia was held at Town Hall here today.

The exhibition, organised by the cultural department of Russian Cultural Centre, displayed around 400 photographs taken by two young Russian amateur photographers, Eugene Zozulya and Gleb Zinovyev, during their travels in India (Zozulya) and Russia (Zinovyev).

The photographs, focusing on the landscape, architecture, culture and religions of the two countries, sought to bring out the similarities and dissimilarities between India and Russia.

The exhibition was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of All Union Society for Cooperation with Foreign Countries.

Speaking on the choice of venue, E. Zozulya, the vice-consul at the Russian consulate in Calcutta, said Kalimpong was chosen because of the special bond the hill town shares with Russia. Helena Roerich, the wife of Russian painter Nicholas, had spent the last eight years of her life at Crookety, a bungalow at Chandraloke in Kalimpong, and was known for her philanthropy.