The anniversary festival "India Day" will be held in Moscow from August 14 to 17.

From August 14 to 17, the tenth anniversary festival "India Day" will be held in the Russian capital. The program will include new formats designed specifically for the anniversary of the festival, such as the opening ceremony, the launch of the Maha Kumbha Mela zone and a children's drawing contest. In total, more than 25 themed zones await visitors. The 10th India Day Festival is organized by the Sita Indian Cultural and National Center.

The India Day Festival, which will be held in the Island of Dreams Landscape Park from August 14 to 17, will be timed to coincide with the 79th anniversary of India's independence on August 15, 2025, as well as the 78th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and India, which was celebrated on April 13 this year. The key theme of this year's festival is the history of the preservation and enhancement of Indian heritage in Russia and the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Sammy Kotwani, Founder of the India Day Festival and President of the Sita Indian Cultural and National Center: "India Day in 2025 marks a decade of developing Indian-Russian cultural relations. This year, celebrating the tenth anniversary of India Day and the 80th anniversary of Russia's historic victory in the Great Patriotic War, we honor our common values of peace, friendship and mutual respect. This festival is a living bridge between countries, uniting communities through culture, heritage and dialogue."

The organizers of the festival share the details of the program: a landmark event for the development of Russian-Indian dialogue in 2025 celebrates its tenth anniversary, which is marked by special events. Guests can't do without the traditional zones they love – they will tell about the diversity of Indian culture at more than 25 venues.

Professional teachers will work for the guests of the festival, who will conduct seminars on yoga and Ayurveda, cook traditional Indian dishes at culinary workshops, the Holi zone will open the doors for all four days of the festival, dance and vocal performances will provide a great mood, and at the chess championship children and adults will try their hand at one of the oldest games on the planet.. There will be daily film screenings of recognized Bollywood masterpieces and novelties, the Janmashtami festival scheduled for Saturday, and the Ratha Yatra chariot festival, which will conclude the Sunday program.

Gastronomy and handmade goods are a part of the August holiday that fans have long been familiar with. This year, the spice, jewelry, fabric, and cosmetics fair will have over 150 participants, and a wealth of national dishes will be presented in 40 restaurant areas. A special item on the menu is a ripe mango straight from India.

For the first time, within the framework of India Day, a special awards ceremony will be held in 10 categories: an independent jury will celebrate the best initiatives and achievements of organizations and individual representatives of communities in the field of strengthening Russian-Indian dialogue.

The judging panel of the award includes Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation; Vladimir Poletaev, Senator of the Russian Federation from the Altai Republic; Kazbek Taisaev, Deputy of the State Duma of the VI, VII and VIII convocations; Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Valentina Kazakova, Head of the Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia; Chairman of the Interdepartmental Commission on Historical Vladimir Medinsky; former Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Vitaly Mutko; Director General of MIA Rossiya Segodnya, Deputy Director General of VGTRK Dmitry Kiselyov; President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Krasnikov; Director of the National Medical Research Radiological Center Andrey Kaprin; Director of the Institute of Asian and African Countries of Moscow State University Alexey Maslov; Rector of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia Oleg Yastrebov; Andrey Kovalchuk, People's Artist of the Russian Federation; Karen Shakhnazarov, General Director of the Mosfilm Film Studio.