India Day Concludes in Moscow

From August 10 to 13, the Indian Cultural and National Center “Sita” organized the “India Day” festival at “Island of Dreams” landscape park (1 Andropov Avenue). This marked the eighth edition of the festival in Moscow, which has grown in scale since its inception in 2014.

The event was hosted by “Sita”, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Indian culture and history in Russia. Its director, Sammy (Manoj) Kotwani, actively fosters mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthens investment ties between Russia and India.

“Sita” also organizes other cultural events in Russia, including the International Yoga Festival, religious celebrations like Diwali (the Indian New Year), and various programs highlighting India’s heritage.

The festival’s main partner was The Imperial Tailoring Company, with support from Russian and Indian government bodies (e.g., Russia’s Ministry of Culture, the Indian Government) and businesses (Sber, Himalaya).

Attendees enjoyed dance performances, henna art, an Indian bazaar, Hindi language lessons, wellness workshops, film screenings, and more. A dedicated relaxation zone featured 500 yoga instructors from 75 Russian schools leading meditation and yoga sessions—including specialized classes for children and seniors—to promote healthy living.

The bazaar showcased spices, natural cosmetics, jewelry, souvenirs, tea, and rosewood furniture, while the food court offered dishes from 30 restaurants representing India’s diverse regional cuisines. Over 100 stalls participated.

This year’s festival celebrated the 77th anniversary of Russia-India diplomatic relations. At the opening ceremony, founder Sammy Kotwani and chef Eniyavan prepared a traditional Indian idli millet cake weighing 77 kg, while participants carried a 30-meter-long Russian-Indian flag.

Over four days, Russian and Indian artists performed on the main stage. Attendees also experienced a traditional Indian wedding ceremony, with more than 25 couples taking part. The festival drew approximately 2 million visitors.

The Holi celebration attracted over 700,000 participants across three days, and attendance at the open-air cinema increased by 20% compared to 2022.