Indian boat in Scotland to promote cultural links

An 18-feet long crafted boat has arrived in Scotland as part of a project for school kids, to promote cultural links.

An 18-feet long boat crafted in India has arrived in Scotland as part of an art project for schoolchildren.

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The traditional wooden boat was made by Bengali craftsmen in Kolkata earlier this year when Scottish artist Kenny Murray went to India to work with the Calcutta School of Art and Craft.

It was shipped to Deeside as part of a project to promote cultural links.

Kolkata artists Tandra Chanda and Pulak Ghosh have been in Deeside as part of an Aberdeenshire Council project.

The project 'Language of Rivers and Leaves' aims to promote cultural links in memory of Ballater-born Sir Patrick Geddes, who spent the last years of his life in India.

This year is the 150th anniversary of his birth. Sir Geddes is known as a great Victorian thinker and the father of town planning.

When the boat arrived, project workers had to bring in a local farmer and his forklift to carry it to Finzean Primary School.

Most of the children had gone home before the boat arrived, but Aberdeenshire Council's arts development officer Mindy Grewar said they would be able to enjoy it next morning.

"It will be like Christmas come early when they get to unpack all the things inside," she said.