Highlights from India and Russia: Events and Holidays (July–October 2025)
Bharat Utsav – Manezhnaya Square, Moscow (July 5–13, 2025)
An event held near the Kremlin, Bharat Utsav brought a vibrant showcase of Indian culture to Manezhnaya Square, attracting approximately 850,000 visitors over nine days. Organized by the Embassy of India in collaboration with the Government of Moscow and the Indian Women's Association, the square was transformed into a tropical courtyard featuring greenery, water features, and open areas for socializing. More than 150 Indian artists and 350 Russian performers presented classical dances, folk traditions, live music, and daily yoga and meditation sessions. Guests of the event explored a large exhibition of Indian handicrafts, interactive photo zones, and a live sand installation. Thanks to its scale, color, and relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, Bharat Utsav became a significant cultural event that further solidified Russian-Indian friendship.
India Day – Dream Island, Moscow (August 14–17, 2025)
India Day, celebrated annually in Russia for the tenth year in a row, once again transformed the Dream Island theme park into a vibrant festival of Indian culture. Organized by the "SITA" Indian Cultural and National Center with the support of the Moscow Government, the festival attracted approximately 7,000 visitors over four days. Guests enjoyed a lively Bollywood stage, a colorful Holi zone, yoga and Ayurveda corners, an Indian wedding pavilion, mehendi and astrology stalls, as well as an extensive bazaar selling Indian cuisine, spices, and folk handicrafts. India Day created an open, festive space where Russians, Indians, and guests from other countries could experience the colours, sounds, and traditions of India. This free citywide celebration turned a visit to Dream Island into one of the brightest cultural weekends in Moscow this year.
Onam Celebration – "Vdokhnovenie" Cultural Center, Moscow (September 13, 2025)
The Moscow Malayalee Association (AMMA), with the support of the Embassy of India, organized the 27th Onam celebration, capturing the warmth and spirit of Kerala. His Excellency Vinay Kumar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation, inaugurated the program alongside the leadership of AMMA, setting the tone for the traditional evening.
The festivities opened with a Kerala-themed dance performance organized by the AMMA cultural team, followed by the main event—a dynamic concert by the famous singer Vidhu Prathap and his band. More than 1,000 guests, including Malayalees, Indians from various states, and many friends from Russia, joined the celebration, which concluded with a traditional Onam Sadhya served on banana leaves. The warm, colourful, and hospitable event brought an authentic Kerala-style Onam to Moscow.
Indian Film Festival (October 4–15, 2025)
Organized by the Embassy of India in Moscow in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the 2nd Indian Film Festival took place across five Russian cities: Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Moscow, Yakutsk, and Vladivostok. Over the course of eleven days, screenings, Q&A sessions, and meetings with filmmakers were organized. An Indian delegation of 16 filmmakers met with audiences across Russia, and Moscow also hosted the WAVES Bazaar, an Indo-Russian film festival.
The warm reception from the audience, packed theatres, and lively discussions during the festival gave a strong boost to Indo-Russian cultural and cinematic cooperation.
Diwali Mela – "Hanoi" Center in Moscow (October 24–27, 2024 and October 25–26, 2025)
The Hanoi-Moscow complex came alive with the warm glow of Diwali, as the festival brought together families, students, and curious visitors for days filled with joy. Everywhere guests looked, there was light and movement—Garba and Dandiya circles, Bollywood workshops, Rangoli tables covered with vibrant colored powders, Mehndi artists painting intricate designs, and stalls overflowing with festive sweets and handmade crafts.
Organized with the support of the Atmanirbhar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Diwali Mela festival created a warm and friendly atmosphere where Indians and Russians connected, shared experiences, and enjoyed the festivities—a simple yet vibrant celebration of Diwali in the heart of Moscow.
Indian Culture Days in Tomsk (November 5–6, 2025)
Tomsk hosted two eventful days of Indian art and traditions, organized by the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC) of the Embassy of India in Russia in collaboration with the administration of the Tomsk Region. The program for the Indian Culture Days in Tomsk included film screenings (including titles such as English Vinglish, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and others), concerts featuring traditional Indian music and dance, wellness events, yoga classes, Ayurveda sessions, lectures on healthy nutrition, and masterclasses in Kathak, Tabla, and vocals.
The opening of the Indian Culture Days took place at the Tomsk State Regional Philharmonic. Following the official ceremony, performances were given by local Tomsk artists as well as musicians from the JNCC of the Embassy of India in Russia. While visiting various themed "Indian stations," residents and guests of Tomsk enjoyed mehndi and sari workshops, a vibrant photo zone, and the exhibition "India – A Tapestry of Many Worlds," which featured images from every Indian state and union territory. With the participation of numerous universities and cultural centers, local students, families, and admirers of Indian culture became part of the celebration, resulting in two warm and colorful days celebrating India in the Tomsk Region.
