Camilla bowed her head and made a traditional "namaste" greeting by placing her hands together as a necklace of blue, orange and white chrysanthemums was placed around her neck. And her husband, looking dapper in a tuxedo, repeated the gesture when he bowed his head to receive an identical garland.

Things got a little trickier when ten-year-old Mitul Patel stepped forward to give each of the royal visitors a good luck charm. Struggling to attach a red string bracelet to the future king's wrist, the youngster complained: "I can't see." He soon completed his task, however, leading Charles to joke: "Don't tie it too tight or the blood won't get through."

Seven-year-old Krupa Patel, who was given the job of presenting a red rose to Camilla, could barely contain her excitement. As soon as she had handed over the flower the little girl threw her arms around the royal guest and gave her a big hug too.

Charles and Camilla were also treated to displays of traditional dancing and music prior to the screening at the British Science Museum's enormous IMAX cinema. The movie, which tells the story of a young boy who walked 8,000 miles across India, was projected onto a screen the height of four double-decker buses.

By Laura Elston, PA Deputy Court Correspondent

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were adorned with garlands tonight as they embraced the customs of a traditional Indian welcome.

As brightly dyed blue, white, orange and green chrysanthemums were placed around Camilla’s neck by a young girl, the royal bowed her head slightly with her hands together – giving the “namaste” greeting.

The prince and his wife were each presented with a thin red thread which was wrapped around their right wrists.

The couple were visiting the Science Museum in London to watch a showing of Mystic India – an IMAX film about an 11-year-old boy who walked alone across the continent for seven years.

When 10-year-old Bhavisha Patel presented the duchess with the simple welcome band, Camilla offered her left hand.

But the youngster told her: “It has to be the right one.”

Bhavisha, from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, said afterwards: “I told her what the band meant and she told me that she thought it was very nice.”

Mitul Patel, also 10, had a spot of trouble securing Charles’s bracelet thanks to the low lighting, telling him: “I can’t see.”

The prince joked: “Don’t tie it too tight because it won’t let the blood through.”

The duchess was dressed in a fitted yellow jacket and long, chiffon skirt with a scarlet shawl over her shoulder.

The world charity premier of Mystic India was held in aid of the Bhartiya Yuva Shakti Trust which helps unemployed people in India.

The heir to the throne and the duchess watched the film on screens as high as four double decker buses.

It tells the story of a child guru called Neelkanth who roamed barefoot across India between 1792 and 1799, covering 8,000 miles.

As the royal couple walked through the Science Museum, they were treated to Indian dancing, sitar playing and displays of traditional craftsmanship.

Krupa Patel, seven, was tasked with presenting Camilla with a red rose, but stepped forward and gave her a big hug too.

The youngster, from Hammersmith, west London, said afterwards: “She was nice and she said my dress was nice as well.”

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall were given a traditional Indian welcome when they attended the film premiere of Mystic India.

The world charity premiere was held at the Science Museum, London, in aid of the Bhartiya Yuva Shakti Trust which helps unemployed people in India.

The film is about an 11-year-old boy who walked alone across the continent for seven years.

After giving the traditional namaste greeting, bowing slightly with their hands together, Their Royal Highnesses were each presented with garlands of blue, white, orange and green chrysanthemums and thin red thread bracelets.

The Duchess was presented with the welcome bracelet by 10-year-old Bhavisha Patel from Welwyn Garden City, in London, who tied it on Her Royal Highness’s right hand.

Bhavisha said afterwards: “I told her what the band meant and she told me that she thought it was very nice.”

Mitul Patel, also 10, had a spot of trouble securing The Prince’s bracelet thanks to the low lighting, telling him: “I can't see”, and The Prince joked: “Don't tie it too tight because it won't let the blood through!”

The Duchess was dressed in a fitted yellow jacket and long, chiffon skirt with a scarlet shawl over her shoulder.

Their Royal Highnesses watched the film on the IMAX screen which is as high as four double decker buses.

07.06.2005: The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attend the premiere of Mystic India at the IMAX cinema at London's Science Museum. Click here for the gallery

It tells the story of a child guru called Neelkanth who roamed barefoot across India between 1792 and 1799, covering 8,000 miles.

As Their Royal Highnesses walked through the Science Museum to the cinema, they were treated to Indian dancing, sitar playing and displays of traditional craftsmanship.

Seven-year-old Krupa Patel, from West London, presented The Duchess with a red rose and gave her a big hug.

The youngster said afterwards: “She was nice and she said my dress was nice as well.”

Among the other guests at the gala were actor Rowan Atkinson, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and actress and writer Meera Syal.

After the screening, The Prince spoke of his affection for India and his desire to take The Duchess there for a visit.

His Royal Highness told guests at a reception in the museum: “Before long I hope I shall be able to take my wife to see the various parts of India I haven't been able to get to yet.”

The Prince praised the film and stressed “the remarkable contribution” that the continent has “always made on a deeper level to our civilisation and our consciousness” and warned against forgetting the “other senses that humanity has been endowed with”.

His Royal Highness said: “If we ignore them it's probably the quickest way for mankind to become extinct.”

Charles and Camilla will sit before a screen as high as four double decker buses at the Science Museum in London.

The child, a spiritual guru called Neelkanth, roamed barefoot across the continent between 1792 and 1799, covering 8,000 miles.

Mystic India, which is narrated by actor Peter O'Toole, retraces the 11-year-old's journey.

The world charity premiere of the 2D film is in aid of the Bhartiya Yuva Shakti Trust which helps unemployed 18 to 35-year-olds in India.

More than 45,000 volunteers starred in the film, recreating colourful festival scenes.

Mystic India won the Viewers' Choice award at the 10th International Imax Film Festival in Paris this year.

Inside the huge venue, the corridors were lined with children in traditional Indian dress to greet the guests, and folks partaking in all manner of cultural displays – from visual art, to music, to culinary, all presented by humanitarian organisation BAPS. Needless to say, Empire was drawn to the superior buffet. Which is not to say that the brilliant sitar work and spectacular powder murals were going unnoticed, but you know, priorities and all that.

After a screening of the film – a sumptuous docu-drama on the spiritual history of India (conveyed through the story of Neelkanth, an eleven year old yogi who, just over 200 years ago, walked across the nation bringing peace and wisdom), we were fortunate enough to grab a few words with executive producer Hiten Patel. "It was an unbelievable experience," said the 22 year old. "Incredibly hard work, but when I watch the film, it was definitely all worth it. We took cameras into the most remote parts of the country – places that haven't seen so much as a light bulb before, and we were given permission to film there, all because of this message of 'unity through diversity' that the film propels."

The hard work paid off, and the audience of British and Indian film and television stars, dignitaries, diplomats, the business community, and of course guests of honour Prince Charles and his wife were notably impressed, with special acclaim being levelled at Reed Smoot's lush cinematography, while the soundtrack by Sam Cardon and Ronu Majumdar was also a talking point for praise. "It was a joy to do, because the was an underlying insistence from all of us that every instrument be authentic to the culture it was representing" said Cardon.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall on Tuesday visited the Science Museum in London to watch Mystic India – an IMAX film about a 11-year-old boy who walked alone across the continent for seven years.

The royal couple was given a traditional Indian welcome. A garland of brightly-dyed blue, white, orange and green chrysanthemums was placed around the duchess' neck by a young girl. The royal bowed her head slightly with her hands together -- giving the namaste greeting.

The prince and his wife were each presented with a thin red thread, which was wrapped around their right wrists.

The duchess was dressed in a yellow jacket and a long, chiffon skirt with a scarlet shawl over her shoulder.

The world charity premier of Mystic India was held in aid of the Bhartiya Yuva Shakti Trust, which helps unemployed people in India.

They were treated to Indian dancing, sitar playing and displays of traditional craftsmanship. Among the other guests at the gala event were Rowan Atkinson, London Mayor Ken Livingstone and comedienne Meera Syal.

Camilla bowed her head and made a traditional "namaste" greeting by placing her hands together as a necklace of blue, orange and white chrysanthemums was placed around her neck. And her husband, looking dapper in a tuxedo, repeated the gesture when he bowed his head to receive an identical garland.

Things got a little trickier when ten-year-old Mitul Patel stepped forward to give each of the royal visitors a good luck charm. Struggling to attach a red string bracelet to the future king's wrist, the youngster complained: "I can't see." He soon completed his task, however, leading Charles to joke: "Don't tie it too tight or the blood won't get through."

The world charity premiere of the film was held at London's Science Museum, on Tuesday (07.6.05) to raise money for the Bhartiya Yuva Shakti Trust which helps unemployed people in India.

After giving the traditional namaste greeting - bowing slightly with their hands together - their Royal Highnesses were presented with garlands of blue, white, orange and green chrysanthemums and thin red thread bracelets.

The prince and his new wife, the Duchess, dressed in a yellow jacket and a chiffon skirt with scarlet shawl, walked through the Museum to the cinema, accompanied by traditional Indian dancing and sitar playing.
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Mrs Parker Bowles was also presented with a red rose and a big hug by seven-year-old Krupa Patel, from west London.

She said afterwards: "She was nice and she said my dress was nice as well."

Other guests at the gala premiere includes were actor 'Mr Bean' star Rowan Atkinson, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and actress and writer, Meera Syal.

After the screening, The Prince spoke of his affection for India and his desire to take the Duchess there for a visit.

The prince said: "Before long I hope I shall be able to take my wife to see the various parts of India I haven't been able to get to yet."

Calcutta: Mystic India, a film produced by the Baps Swaminarayan Sanstha, has won the audience choice prize at the 10th international large-format film festival at La Geode in Paris, says a staff reporter.

Directed by Keith Melton and narrated by actor Peter ’ Toole, the film depicts an 11-year-old’s barefooted march across India in seven years, capturing the many mysteries of the country. Later this year, it will be released in Hindi with Amitabh Bachchan doing the narration.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla had attended the film’s world premiere in London.