More than 700,000 people attended the opening of the India Day Anniversary festival

The tenth anniversary festival "India Day" has opened in Moscow. The traditional celebration of Indian culture is taking place in the southern landscape park "Islands of Dreams" for the tenth time and will last until August 17th. The key topics of this year are the history of the preservation and enhancement of the Indian heritage in Russia and the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The 10th India Day Festival is organized by the Sita Indian Cultural and National Center.

The anniversary of the celebration, designed to develop the Russian-Indian dialogue, was marked with a rich cultural program, performances by honored guests and festive events. According to tradition, Sammy Kotwani, President of the Sita Indian Cultural and National Center and chief organizer of India Day, addressed the guests of the festival with a welcoming speech.

Sammy Kotwani, President of the Sita Indian Cultural and National Center, Director of the India Day Festival: "Today, our hearts are overflowing when we see friends from more than 30 embassies and many regions of Russia gathering at one venue, celebrating the spirit of friendship, unity and culture. "India Day" is not just a holiday, it is a bridge connecting two great countries, India and Russia. It has transformed from a cultural event into a real platform for diplomacy, business, art and people-to-people relations. This year is special and significant.: We are celebrating the 79th anniversary of India's independence, the 78th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, and the 80th anniversary of Russia's Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Our festival pays homage to these milestones and also showcases the vibrancy and diversity of India: from yoga to Bollywood, from classical dance to street food, from Asian traditions to modern innovations. Let's celebrate this event not only with our cultures, but also with the unbreakable friendship that binds us. May this day be filled with joy, meaningful exchange of experiences and unforgettable memories."

The official opening ceremony was attended by partners and honored guests of the holiday: Vinay Kumar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation; Sergey Cheryomin, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Foreign Economic and International Relations of the City of Moscow; Boris Pishik, General Director of JSC HC Ostrov Dreaming; ambassadors of Thailand, Cambodia, Ecuador and other countries. In total, representatives of about 30 embassies visited the first day of the festival.

Sergey Cheryomin, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Foreign Economic and International Relations of the City of Moscow: "The India Day Festival has become part of the big marathon "Summer in Moscow", in which Moscow gathers millions of guests in our parks, squares and squares. India is an amazing country, where not only almost one and a half billion people live, it is a state with hundreds of nationalities, with thousands of languages and various dialects. And all these people are creating an amazingly beautiful, powerful, and future-moving country, which today is famous for its successes in the development of space, science, information technology, engineering, and culture. We are proud that India has become Russia's second foreign trade partner, including the second foreign trade partner of the city of Moscow, and this allows us to confidently move forward together. There is a saying that in order for a person to fulfill his destiny on earth, he must plant a tree, build a house, and raise a son. I would also add a daughter. I am sure that our Indian friends have built their home in Russia, raised their children, and today they are helping us build this beautiful country together and create this comfortable, beautiful city."

The ceremony continued with an Indian gala concert on the main stage, as well as the cutting of a large anniversary cake. At the end of the official part, the honored guests toured the festival site and got acquainted with the main events prepared in its main areas.

Over 20 themed zones will be open to visitors until August 17. Guests will attend film screenings, yoga workshops, a chess tournament, sound therapy, a gastronomic fair, a dance marathon and much more. A novelty of 2025 was the launch of the Maha Kumbha Mela zone in Moscow.