The unique Lisboa '98 with its theme:`Oceans, a heritage for the future, also marks the Portugese celebration of the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama's historic voyage to India which linked the Atlantic to the Indian ocean, and the Western world to the east.

With more than 150 countries sharing their age-old experiences and visions of the awe-inspiring ocean waters, which constitute two thirds of the planet's surface and are the greatest source of wealth for the future, the Expo '98 which opened here this week, is the biggest - ever to be held.

The Lisbon world exposition also underlines the centuries-old Portuguese vocation of establishing links with cultures and civilisationa and looks to the future on a theme which has always been a means of communciation between the people ofthe world.

Being held in the UN international year of the oceans, the Expo '98 is set in 60 hectares of the 340-hectare strip of eastern Lisbon overlooking the Tagus river which merges into the Atlantic ocean. Vasco da Gama and other Portuguese sailors had begun their Odysey from Tagus harbour.

The rest of the land, stretching five kms along the front river is witnessing a massive and ambitious urban regeneration project with state of the art faciltiies for residential office and commercial blocks. This will make the Tagus an integral part of the city once more.

Most of the pavilions in the exposition use classic and modern staging techniques together with sophisticated multi-media technology to project the central theme of oceans -- their exploration, resources and protection from dumping waste.

The exposition highlights Portugal's decisive and pioneering role in the discoveries which led to the process of European overseas expansion in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Antonio Mega Ferreira, who iscredited with creating the Lisboa '98 theme of the oceans, told a group of visiting Indian journalists that the exposition was intended to set up a forum to assess current knowledge of the oceans and their resources.

Also, it should contribute to the creation of new systems to manage the planet's water and to preserve its ecological balance, through rational forms of exploiting marine resources and to recreate the oceans as a leisure facility and a source of artistic inspiration.

Jmany pavilions, including the oceanariums showing the flora and fauna of oceans, would be a permanent feature as a heritage for the future after the expo ends on September 30.

In keeping with the expo theme, the India pavilion projects the fable of `Samudra Manthan'' (churning of the sea for the elixir of life) that links mythology with protection of econological balance and sustainable exploitation of oceans. Put up by the india trade promotion organisation.

The centrepieces of the pavilions entrance area is a conch shellwhich is linked to the mezzanine by a floor symbolising the wave effect using colour combinations.