A three-day art festival on sexuality, 'Astitva 2008', portraying democratisation of sexuality, will be inaugurated here Saturday at the National Centre for Performing Arts.

The festival organised by sexual rights group Sambhavana will feature exhibition of sculptures, paintings and short documentary films and theatrical performances.

The three-day festival is expected to attract over 2,000 visitors with a major chunk of them belonging to the young adults' category.

Talking to press, general secretary of Sambhavana Jasmir Shah said: 'The Sexuality Art is a step in the direction of our aim to organise an International Sexuality Festival. This festival will be the third one we are holding in the last three years. Our focus this year is on alternative sexuality and sensitisation towards homosexuality.'

This year, 71 colleges of art will display their collection of paintings and sculptures. Short plays by 10 amateur theatre groups and short documentary films by students of 46 mass media colleges will accompany the art show.

Sambhavana started the festival in 2005 with a display of posters. The success of the venture led to the festival of short documentary and animated films, along with plays in Marathi languages next year.

Last year, a two-day event was held and over 15 colleges, apart from art institutions, exhibited their paintings.

According to Thakur: 'We are trying to bring about sensitisation towards alternate sexuality and motivate this category to work towards self-esteem and also naturalise themselves into mainstream society.'