A MAJOR British Museum exhibition of items made for the courts of India has come to East Lancashire.

The showcase at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, which runs until Saturday, August 26, is part of celebration of cultural ties between the UK and the sub-continent to mark the 70th anniversary of its independence,

The ‘Music of Courtly India’ exhibition features items created for aristocratic patrons including stunning ragamala paintings (c.1610) and an ivory sarinda instrument (c.1700).

Popular amongst Rajput and Mughal patrons in Northern India, and Sultanate patrons in the Deccan in Southern India, ragamala paintings are visual interpretations of poems based on classical Indian raga music.

Cllr Damian Talbot, Blackburn with Darwen Borough culture boss, said:“I urge as many people as possible not to miss this fantastic exhibition which will enable visitors to find out more about the heritage of a country which, we especially here in East Lancashire, have extremely strong bonds.”

The loan is a Partnership Spotlight exhibition, part of the British Museum South Asia Season 2017 supported by the Dorset Foundation as part of a programme of cultural exchanges organised by the British Council and the Government of India.