Lok Sabha Question No. 4329 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Indian Festivals in African Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Anil Yeshwant Desai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4329

## ANSWERED ON- 20/12/2024

## INDIAN FESTIVALS IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES

## 4329. SHRI ANIL YESHWANT DESAI

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether   the   Government   has   noticed   that   Indian   festivals   and traditions being followed in some African and other countries;
- (b) if so, the name of the countries alongwith the Indian festivals they celebrated in those countries;
- (c)   whether   cultural   exchange   has   ever   been   made   between   these countries, if so, the details of such activities during the last five years, year-wise; and
- (d) whether such bonds helps in better understanding with them?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a & b) Indian festivals and traditions are not only followed in African countries but all over the world by Indian community as well as several local cultural organizations. In addition, Indian Missions/Posts abroad also celebrate Indian festivals by organizing performances by Indian cultural groups/troupes through Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

(c) ICCR has been sponsoring  visits   of   performing   art   groups   in collaboration   with   Indian   Missions/Posts   abroad   and   local   cultural organizations; often coinciding with Indian festival dates and promoting Indian traditions abroad. A list of such groups sponsored by ICCR since 2020 is placed at Annexure-I.

(d) These festivals are being organized with the aim to depict the rich and diverse cultural heritage of India and strengthen cultural relations and mutual understanding with other countries. They are the tool of inter-culture understanding and cultural diplomacy that project the soft power of India. This soft approach is expected to benefit India in the field of tourism, health, education, commerce etc. and provide strategic depth to growing influence of India.

## a) ICCR sponsored events in African Countries

|   S.No. | Name of Country                                     | Name of Indian Festival                               | Details of groups sponsored by ICCR                                                                                                          |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    2020 |                                                     |                                                       |                                                                                                                                              |
|       1 | Nigeria, Chad, Benin, Mozambique and Reunion Island | Republic Day Celebrations                             | 06-Member Oddisi group 'Kaishiki Dance Academy' led by Ms. Daksha Sanjay Mashruwala, Maharashtra from 23 January - 5 February 2020           |
|       2 | Senegal                                             | Tiranga Festival                                      | 08-Member Bollywood group 'Dance Smith Performing Arts Pvt. Ltd. - Sujit Kayal' led by Shri Mirnal Gera, Delhi from 25-26 January 2020       |
|       3 | Mauritius                                           | Mahashivratri Celebrations                            | 04-Member Devotional music group led by Ms. Sumana Chakrabarty, West Bengal from 15-23 February 2020                                         |
|    2022 |                                                     |                                                       |                                                                                                                                              |
|       1 | Zambia                                              | 'India Week' as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav(AKAM) | 12-Member 'Vande Bharatam' Contemporary Dance troupe 'Rekha Dance Troupe' led by Mr. Samrat Das, Delhi from 03-07 June, 2022                 |
|       2 | Ghana                                               | Celebrations of India@75                              | 17-Member Indian Cinematic Music & Dance Group 'Dance Era - Manik Bhatheja (Delhi)' led by Mr. Manik Bhatheja, Delhi from 11-16 August, 2022 |
|       3 | Mauritius, Madagascar, South Africa,                | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav coincide with Independence    | 12-Member 'Jawaharlal Nehru Manipuri Dance Academy' (JNMD) group led by Ms. Chandandevi Gurumayum, Manipur from 14-31 August, 2022           |

|      | Botswana and Swaziland                                           | Day celebrations                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------|------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    4 | Angola, Ethiopia and Sudan                                       | India Week.                                             | 08-Member Indian Cinema Music & Dance Group 'A To Z Hot Dance Group' led by Shri Sukhvinder Singh, Delhi from 03-15 November, 2022                                                                       |
|    5 | Mauritius                                                        | AKAM India @75 celebrations.                            | 08-Member Indian Cinema Music Cinema Music & Dance Group 'Colours of Bollywood' led by Shri Asif Ali, Delhi from 07-12 December, 2022                                                                    |
|    6 | Zimbabwe                                                         | Namaste Zimbabwe Festival during India@75 celebrations. | i. 05-Member Light Music Group led by Ms. Oshin Bhatia, Delhi and ii. 07-Member Kalariyapattu Group 'Maruthi Marma Chikilsa & Kalari Sangom' led by Shri T Ajith Kumar, Kerala from 12-17 December, 2022 |
| 2023 |                                                                  |                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|    1 | Seychelles                                                       | Republic Day Celebrations                               | 08-Member 'Sanjali Centre for Odissi Dance' Troupe led by Sharmila Mukerjee, Karnataka from 25-28 January, 2023                                                                                          |
|    2 | Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Gabon and Sudan | Republic Day Celebration                                | 08-Member Gujarati Folk Dance Group led by Mr. Kushal Dixit, Gujarat from 25 January-04 February, 2023                                                                                                   |
|    3 | Kenya                                                            | Iconic AKAM Week                                        | 08 members Sidi Dhamaal Sidi Goma - Saiyad Akbarmiya Gulamali Kadari troupe. Gujarat from 10-18 June 2023                                                                                                |
|    4 | Tunisia                                                          | India Day celebrations                                  | 08 member Vande Bharatam group Supriya Dance Academy led by Supriya Singh from 2-16 August 2023                                                                                                          |

|                  |                  | coincide with AKAM           |                                                                                                                        |
|------------------|------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 5.               | Zambia           | Independence Day Anniversary | 07 member Naadhalaya led by Valayyapatti S Malarvannan Percussion Instrumental Group, Tamil Nadu from 7-10 August 2023 |
| 2024 (Till date) | 2024 (Till date) | 2024 (Till date)             | 2024 (Till date)                                                                                                       |
| 1.               | Seychelles, Mahe | Independence Day             | 08 Member Kathak Dance Group led by Uma Dogra from 12-16 August, 2024                                                  |

## b) ICCR sponsored events in other than African Countries

|   S.No. | Name of Country       | Name of Indian Festival   | Details of groups sponsored by ICCR                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|---------|-----------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    2020 |                       |                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|       1 | Singapore             | Pongal celebrations       | 08-Member of Tamil Nadu Folk group 'Kavin Kalai Kuzhu - Ilangovan M' led by Ms. Keerthanaa Ilangovan, Tamil Nadu from 08-13 January 2020                                                                                          |
|       2 | Sri Lanka and Myanmar | Republic celebrations.    | Day 06-Member Kathak group led by Ms. Jayshree Acharya, Haryana; and 03-Member Veena group led by Ms. J. Yoga Vandana, Karnataka from 21-28 January 2020 03-Member Veena group visited Myanmar from 29 January - 1 February 2020. |
|       3 | Saudi Arabia          | Republic celebrations     | Day 08-Member Bhangra group 'Malwa Sabyacharak Club Patiala' led by Shri Gurdarshan Singh, Punjab from 23-29 January, 2020                                                                                                        |
|       4 | Trinidad & Tobago     | Republic celebrations     | Day 06-Member Odissi dance group 'Soor Mandir Dance Academy' led by Ms. Jyotsna Rani Sahoo, Bhubaneswar                                                                                                                           |

|         | South Korea   | Republic Day                                                                                                  | from 24 January to 08 February 2020 03-Member Instrumental group (Santoor) led by Shri                                                                                                                    |
|---------|---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 5. 6.   | Spain         | Celebrations India en Concierto festival dedicated to Pandit Ravi Shankar on the occasion of his 100 th       | Satyendra Singh Solanki, Madhya Pradesh from 29 January -02 February 2020 04-Member Sitar group led by Shri Gaurav Mazumdar from Delhi.                                                                   |
| 2021 1. | Canada        | Birth Anniversary.                                                                                            | 06-14 October 2020                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|         |               | India en Concierto festival dedicated to Pandit Ravi Shankar on the occasion of his 100 th Birth Anniversary. | Sent video recording of Ms. Vidhi Nagar, Kathak dancer from Uttar Pradesh from 22 January - 01 February 2021.                                                                                             |
| 2.      | Bangladesh    | India en Concierto festival dedicated to Pandit Ravi Shankar on the occasion of his 100 th Birth Anniversary. | 18-Member Contemporary dance group led by Ms. Mamta Shankar Ghosh, West Bengal from 15-23 March 2021; and 07-Member Hindustani Vocal group led by Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, West Bengal from 25-29 March 2021 |
| 3.      | UK            | India en Concierto festival dedicated to Pandit Ravi Shankar on the occasion of his 100 th Birth Anniversary. | ICCR participated in the India Global Week held in London on 30 th June, 2021. Two Segments- Indology Award Ceremony and Cultural Board Interaction were coordinated by ICCR on 30 June, 2021             |
| 4.      | Mexico        | India en Concierto                                                                                            | 12-Member Bollywood/Bhangra group 'Taka Dimi Ta' led                                                                                                                                                      |

|      |           | festival dedicated to Pandit Ravi Shankar on the occasion of his 100 th Birth Anniversary.                    | by Shri Narender Kumar, Delhi from 23 October- 03 November 2021                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|------|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    5 | Palestine | India en Concierto festival dedicated to Pandit Ravi Shankar on the occasion of his 100 th Birth Anniversary. | 11-Member Contemporary group 'Anveshana' led by Ms. Sangeeta Sharma, Delhi from 23 -30 November 2021                                                                                                                                             |
|    6 | Finland   | India en Concierto festival dedicated to Pandit Ravi Shankar on the occasion of his 100 th Birth Anniversary. | 03-Indian artistes (Shri Vidyadhar Vyas, Vocalist, Shri Kamal Sabri, Sarangi exponent and Shri Gulfam Sabri, Tabla exponent) to Helsinki from 08 - 11 December 2021, to give fusion performance with Finnish artistes from 08 - 11 December 2021 |
| 2022 |           |                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|    1 | Iraq      | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' (AKAM) coincide with Republic Day celebrations                                       | 15-Member Bhola Panchhi Bhangra Group led by Shri Parvinder Singh, Rajasthan from 23-30 January,2022                                                                                                                                             |
|    2 | Sri Lanka | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) coincide with India's Republic Day and Sri Lankan Independence Day.            | 10-Member Oddisi Dance Group led by Moumita Ghosh, Delhi from 25 January-05 February, 2022                                                                                                                                                       |

|   3. | Uzbekistan and Tajikistan         | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations.                                                | 11-Member Kathak Dance group 'Shambhavi's International School of Kathak' led by Ms. Sharbari Ajit Bhide, Maharashtra from 22-30 March, 2022     |
|------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    4 | Uzbekistan                        | International Jazz Festival coincide with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations.      | 05-Member Jazz Group 'Benny & The Jazz Collective- Benedict Lazarus' led by Shri Benedict Lazarus, Delhi from 10-13 May, 2022                    |
|    5 | Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras. | 50 th Anniversary of the Establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Guatemala. | 12-Member Kathak Dance Group led by Ms. Sonia Atul Parchure, Maharashtra from 16-25 May 2022                                                     |
|    6 | Austria                           | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations.                                                | 10-Member'Vande Bhartam' Odissi Dance group 'Nrutyanilaya' led by Ms. Swapana Rani Sinha, Odisha from 17-23 June, 2022                           |
|    7 | Russia                            | 'India Week' as part of AKAM celebrations.                                                  | 10-Member Carnatic Veena group led by Suma Sudhindhra, Karnataka from 20-28 June,2022                                                            |
|    8 | USA (Houston)                     | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations.                                                | 12-Member 'Vande Bharatam' Rajasthani Folk Dance group 'Anita Pradhan Dance Group' led by Ms. Anita Pradhan, Rajasthan from 20 June-01 July,2022 |
|    9 | Belarus                           | Slavianski Bazar coincide with 75 th Anniversary of India's Independence and 30 th          | 11-Member 'Vande Bharatam' group 'Bhairi Bhavani Performing Arts' led by Ms. Bhavana Chaudhary, Maharashtra from 15-20 July, 2022                |

|    |                        | Anniversary of diplomatic ties with Belarus.                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|----|------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 10 | Brazil                 | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations.                                            | 12-Member Gujarati Folk group 'Aavishkar' led by Shri Dinesh Gokaldas Parekh, Gujarat from 12-21 August, 2022                                                                                                                         |
| 11 | Vietnam                | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations coincide with Independence Day celebrations | 1. 06-Member Odissi Dance group led by Ms. Anu Narayan, Maharshtra 2. 12-Member Bollywood group led by Ms. Shipra Goyal, Delhi 3. 04-Member Fusion group 'Parinday Music of Soul' led by Soumitra Paul, Delhi from 12-21 August, 2022 |
| 12 | Egypt                  | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.                                                   | 09-Member Kathak Group led by Ms. Luna Poddar, West Bengal from 13-19 August, 2022                                                                                                                                                    |
| 13 | Saudi Arabia and Qatar | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav coincide with Independence Day celebrations                     | 08-Member Qawwali Group led by Shri Danish Hussain, Uttar Pradesh from 14-20 August, 2022.                                                                                                                                            |
| 14 | Lebanon                | India Week in Lebanon                                                                   | 10-Member Vande Bharatam 'Chandigarh University Girls Team - Giddha' group led by Mandeep Kaur, Punjab from 14-18 August, 2022                                                                                                        |
| 15 | New Zealand            | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.                                                   | 12-Member Vande Bharatam 'Chandigarh University Bhangra Group' led by Shri Amit Sarwan, Punjab from 19-22 August, 2022                                                                                                                |

|   16. | Ireland, Switzerland and UK   | Tagore Jayanti as AKAM mega event.                                                                        | 12-Member Tagore Theatrical group led by Ms. Dona Ganguly, West Bengal from 19-29 August, 2022                                                                        |
|-------|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    17 | Finland                       | India Day 2022 and the Reception on the occasion of 75 year of India's Independence as part of AKAM week. | 08-Member Vande Bhartam 'Talam' group led by Shri Rajiv Khan, West Bengal from 20-22 August, 2022                                                                     |
|    18 | Scotland                      | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.                                                                     | 10-Member VB Bharatnatyam Group 'Sree Natya Niketan' led by Ms. Shrinithi Vijaykumar, Tamil Nadu from 02-05 September, 2022                                           |
|    19 | Malaysia                      | 65 years of diplomatic relationship between India and Malaysia                                            | 10-Member VB Bharatnatyam Dance group 'Manjula Ramaswamy' led by Ms. Manjula Ramaswamy, Telangana from 08-14 September, 2022                                          |
|    20 | Switzerland                   | AKAM celebrations                                                                                         | 04-Member Travel Grant led by Dr. L. Subramaniam, Karnataka from 22 September - 14 October, 2022                                                                      |
|    21 | Switzerland and Spain         | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations coinciding with Independence Day                              | 08- Member 'Vande Bharatam' Mohinattam/ Kalariyapattu Dance Group 'Interrnational Academy of Mohiniattam' led by Ms. Radhika Menon, Delhi from 23- 29 September, 2022 |
|    22 | Australia                     | AKAM celebrations.                                                                                        | i.08-Member VB Gujarati Folk troupe 'Margam' led by Ms. Priyal Dipesh Zaveri, Gujarat and ii.08-Member VB Bharatnatyam group 'Pavitra Art                             |

|      |                     |                                                                                                     | Academy' led by Shri Pavitra Bhatt, Maharashtra from 06-17 October, 2022                                                              |
|------|---------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   23 | Spain               | AKAM Celebrations.                                                                                  | 08-Member Bharatnatyam Dance group led by Ms. Rama Vaidyanathan, Delhi from 08-12 October, 2022                                       |
|   24 | USA (Atlanta)       | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations                                                         | 08-Member Rajasthani group led by Ms. Kanchanbai Teratali, Rajasthan from 14-20 October, 2022                                         |
|   25 | Canada              | Banaras Festival under the ambit of annual Diwali Razz Matazz Festival of Indo Canada Arts Council. | 08-Member Fusion group 'Neeraj Arya's Kabir Cafe' led by Shri Neerja Arya, Maharshtra from 18-30 October, 2022                        |
|   26 | Vietnam             | Diwali Celebrations by Indian Chamber of Commerce (INCHAM)                                          | 08-Member Fusion Music 'Indian Ocean' group led by Shri Dhruv Suresh Jagasia, Delhi from 11-15 November, 2022                         |
|   27 | Bangladesh          | Bharat-Bangladesh Maitree Divas.                                                                    | 07-Member Band Group 'Band Oxygen' led by Shri C. Girinandh, Tamil Nadu from 05-11 December, 2022                                     |
| 2023 |                     |                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                       |
|    1 | Sri Lanka (Colombo) | Republic Day Celebration                                                                            | 07-Member 'Dementia Rock Band' Group led by Shri Inakhu A Ayeh, Nagaland from 23-31 January, 2023                                     |
|    2 | Dominican Republic  | India Week & National Day Celebrations.                                                             | 08-Member Odissi Dance Group led by Ms. Ranjana Gauhar, Delhi from 24 January -01 February, 2023                                      |
|    3 | Iraq                | Republic Day Celebrations                                                                           | 08-Member VB Maharashtra Folk Group 'Amey Patil Dance Group' led by Ms. Kiran Sawant, Maharashtra from 24-January - 02 February, 2023 |
|    4 | Saudi Arabia        | Republic Day Celebration                                                                            | 08-Member VB 'Om Vinayak Crew' Group led by Shri                                                                                      |

|    |                           |                                                                                                | Yogesh Kushwaha, Uttar Pradesh from 24-29 January, 2023                                                                             |
|----|---------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  5 | Estonia and Lithuania     | Republic Day Celebration                                                                       | 08-Member Rajasthani Folk Group 'Panihari Lok Sangeet' led by Manga Khan, Rajasthan from 24 January-02 February, 2023               |
|  6 | Poland                    | Republic Day Celebration                                                                       | 08-Rajasthani Group led by Ms. Shamla Kalbelia Sapera, Rajasthan from 24-30 January, 2023                                           |
|  7 | Turkmenistan              | Republic Day Celebration                                                                       | 08-Bharatnatyam Dance Group 'Chithkala School of Dance' led by Mr. Praveen Kumar Prasanna Kumar, Karnataka from 25-30 January, 2023 |
|  8 | Nepal                     | Republic Day Celebrations                                                                      | 05-Member Kathak Dance Group led by Ms. Namrata Rai, Delhi from 25-30 January, 2023                                                 |
|  9 | Sri Lanka                 | India-Week Festival coincide with Mahashivratri Festival.                                      | 05-Member Carnatic Vocal Group led by Dr. Arundhati B, Kerala from 14-19 February, 2023                                             |
| 10 | Uzbekistan                | Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.                                                                       | 08-Member Shibani Kashyap, Delhi NCR from 16-20 March, 2023                                                                         |
| 11 | USA, New York             | India@75 special concert planned in the UN General Assembly Hall as part of AKAM celebrations. | Group led Shri Niladri Kumar from 31 March, 2023                                                                                    |
| 12 | Switzerland and Edinburgh | Independence Day Anniversary                                                                   | 05 member Anwesha Das led Bharatnatyam group, Tamil Nadu from 11-17 August, 2023                                                    |

| 13.              | Hanoi, Vietnam           | Independence Day                                                      | 06 members Tetseo Sisters from Nagaland from 10-16 August 2023                                                             |                  |
|------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|
| 14.              | Qatar                    | celebrations Independence Day celebrations                            | 02 member Sachin Patwardhan led Sarod group Madhya Pradesh from 14-17 August 2023                                          |                  |
| 15.              | Bulgaria                 | Independence Day celebration                                          | 06 member Kathak group led by Leena Malakar, Haryana from 14-20 August 2023                                                |                  |
| 16.              | Finland, Tallinn Estonia | AKAM celebrations alongwith India Day 2023 celebrations               | 08 member Tanushree Shankar led contemporary fusion dance group, West Bengal from 18-23 August 2023 and 23-26 August, 2023 |                  |
| 17.              | Reunion Island           | Diwali celebrations                                                   | 8-Member Bharatanatyam Dance Group led by Sneha Devanandan from14-20 November, 2023                                        |                  |
| 18.              | Peru                     | 60 th Anniversary of Celebration of India - Peru Diplomatic Relation. | 08-member Kalarippayattu Group Travancore School of Kalarippayattu led by Radhakrishnan G from 16-21 November, 2023        |                  |
| 2024 (Till date) | 2024 (Till date)         | 2024 (Till date)                                                      | 2024 (Till date)                                                                                                           | 2024 (Till date) |
| 1.               | Vietnam                  | Republic Day Celebrations                                             | 8-member Punjabi Folk group led by Hardeep Singh from 15-26 January, 2024                                                  |                  |
| 2.               | Indonesia                | Republic Day Celebrations                                             | 8-Member Odissi Dance group - Gunjan Das Academy led by Meera Das from 23-29 January, 2024                                 |                  |
| 3.               | Sri Lanka                | Republic Day Celebrations                                             | 8-Member Odissi Dance Group led by Namrata Mehta from 23-29 January, 2024                                                  |                  |
| 4.               | Peru                     | 60th Anniversary of Celebration of India - Peru Diplomatic Relation.  | 05-member Odissi Dance Group led by Leema Bhol, Odisha from 25-30 January, 2024                                            |                  |

|   5. | Peru                        | 60th Anniversary of Celebration of India - Peru Diplomatic Relation.   | 60th Anniversary of Celebration of India - Peru Diplomatic Relation.   | 04-member Hindustani Vocal Group led by Ms. Anisha Roy from 25-30 January, 2024                            |
|------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    6 | Bhutan                      | Republic celebrations                                                  | Day                                                                    | 08 member Manipuri group led by Poushali Chatterjee, West Bengal from 25-30 January 2024                   |
|    7 | Poland                      | Republic Celebrations                                                  | Day                                                                    | 8-Member Kathak Group 'Kadambh' from 23-28 January, 2024                                                   |
|    8 | South Africa                | Republic Celebrations                                                  | Day                                                                    | 8-Member Contemporary Dance Group led by Satya Brat Roy Chowdhury from 23-31 January, 2024                 |
|    9 | Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan | Republic Celebrations                                                  | Day                                                                    | 8-member Kathak Dance group led by Prajakta Atre in January, 2024                                          |
|   10 | Slovenia                    | Republic Celebrations                                                  | Day                                                                    | 5-Member Kathak Group led by Kavita Thakur from 24- 28 January, 2024                                       |
|   11 | Russia                      | Republic Celebrations                                                  | Day                                                                    | 08 Member group Contemporary Dance group led by Rekha Mehra from January, 2024                             |
|   12 | Guyana, T&T and Suriname    | Fagua (Holi)                                                           |                                                                        | 08 member Bhojpuri Group led by Bhola Pandey from 24 March, 2024                                           |
|   13 | Indonesia & Vietnam         | Holi                                                                   |                                                                        | 08 Member group Braj ki Holi - Pratibha Kala Kendra led by Pratibha Tiwari (Sharma) from 20-31 March, 2024 |
|   14 | Fiji                        | Girmit Day celebration                                                 | Girmit Day celebration                                                 | 05 Member Group led by Vandana Shukla from 12-19 May,2024                                                  |
|   15 | Hungary                     | Connecting the World through Ramanyana                                 | Connecting the World through Ramanyana                                 | 08 Member group Vyomesh Shukla Theatre from 28th June - 1st July                                           |
|   16 | Thailand                    | International Ramayana Festival                                        | International Ramayana Festival                                        | 08 Member group Ananda Shankar Jayant (Bharatnatyam Group based on Ramayana production)                    |

|    |                                         |                                            | from12th-16th July,2023                                                                                          |
|----|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 17 | Vietnam                                 | Independence Day                           | 08 Member Odissi Dance group "A.L.P.A.N.A." led by Alpana Nayak from 11-26 AUGUST, 2024                          |
| 18 | Nepal                                   | Independence Day                           | 08 Member Instrumental Group led by Arpita Dutta from 12-21 Auguat , 2024                                        |
| 19 | Russia                                  | Independence Day Celebrations              | 08 MemberKathak and MohiniyattamPriyadarshani Shome from 14-24 AUGUST 2024                                       |
| 20 | Sri Lanka                               | Independence Day/ Bharat Week              | 08 Member Folk groupRanjit Gogoi- from 13-17 AUGUST, 2024                                                        |
| 21 | Esthonia                                | 78th Independence Day Celebration 2024     | 08 Member "Jhankaar Bollywood Dance Company" LED BY Neha Sharma from 14-20 August 2024                           |
| 22 | Canberra(Aust ralia)                    | To participate in mini India festival      | 08 member folk music group led by Ravinder Singh from 12-19th August, 2024                                       |
| 23 | United Kingdom (created on Jan 15,2024) | Independence day Bharatanatyam Dance Group | 07 Member Bharatanatyam Dance Group Kanika Srinivasan from 14-18th August 2024                                   |
| 24 | Bulgaria                                | Independence day                           | 07- members of Bharatnatyam Group led by Ms. Arupa Lahiry from 12th- 17th August 2024                            |
| 25 | Japan                                   | Namaste India                              | 08 members of the Purulia Chhau Group led by Shri Bhagabandas Kumar from 13-30 September, 2024                   |
| 26 | Thailand                                | Diwali Celebrations                        | 08 members Rajasthani Folk group Jivandas Teratali Group led by Jivandas from 13-17 September, 2024              |
| 27 | Japan , Vietnam and Thailand            | India Mela                                 | 08-member Rajasthani Folk Group 'Ajmaru Kala Mandal' led by Ms. Karuna Verma from 11-October, to 30 October 2024 |

|   28. | Australia   | Dueeshra/Diwali Celebrations   | 08-member Rajasthani Folk group (Rashid Khan Langa Group) from 25-29 October, 2024                                    |
|-------|-------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    29 | Spain       | Ramayana Festival              | 08 Member Ramayana Festival Margi Kathakali group led by Vijayakumaran Nair Velayudhan Nair from 14-18 November, 2024 |

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