There is nothing more important than friendship, said Russian envoy Denis Alipov.
New Delhi:
As India and Russia celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov said at the inauguration of the Russian Culture Festival here in New Delhi that tonight he is resuming a tradition of mutual cultural festivals between the two countries after years of offline cultural exchange due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the festival will be the most colorful manifestation of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and India.
Highlighting a popular saying in Hindi, the envoy added that there is nothing more important than friendship and that the festival’s mission is to increase bonds between people.
“Tonight we resume the wonderful tradition of mutual cultural festivals of Russia and India and India and Russia. This year, we brought three very prominent, famous groups and dance and song groups to India, and this particular year’s festival will be a very colorful highlight mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and India. It would be a very vivid illustration of the rich and diverse cultural ties between our nations, the historical friendship, mutual interest and understanding and trust,” said the Russian ambassador.
In particular, cultural exchange between the two nations has been affected by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“After years of living through the pandemic, we are resuming this wonderful tradition that has always been very popular in both our friendly countries. During one week, our Indian friends will enjoy some brilliant performances spread across the metropolitan cities of New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata in tribute to one of the oldest civilizations on earth. The festival will be the most colorful manifestation of the 75th anniversary of Russia-India diplomatic relations which we celebrate this year. There is a popular saying in India: ‘Dosti se zyada kuch bhi nahi hota’ (There is nothing more important than friendship). A very precise characteristic of Russia’s trusting and friendly nature and India’s strategic partnership. This mission of the festival is to increase our humanitarian ties through cultural events , he added.
During the inauguration, the Russian envoy also hoped that the Indian public would be impressed by the taste and culture of Russia.
“After Delhi, the festival will move to Kolkata and then Mumbai, returning to Delhi on the 29th this month. I am absolutely sure that the Indian audience will be impressed and enjoy the performance, the taste and the culture of Russia in coming days,” he added.
The Russian Culture Festival started today in New Delhi. The festival will take place in New Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai until November 29, 2022. The festival in India began with the performance of the Ensemble Lezginka, which demonstrated the unique folk art of Russia.
The State Academic Honored Dance Ensemble of Dagestan “Lezginka” was founded on September 6, 1958. During its existence, the ensemble toured 75 countries around the world and was the winner of 52 world famous Festivals of Folklore dance competitions organized especially for professional businesses.
In 2014, “Lezginka” was invited to perform special concerts for the guests of the Sochi Winter Olympics. In August 2012, Lezginka presented a program dedicated to the North Caucasian region of Russia to the guests and participants of the XXX Summer Olympic Games in London. The ensemble staged more than 100 dances of the peoples of Dagestan, the Caucasus and Russia.
The festival is organized by the federal state budget institution for culture ROSCERT, with the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NewsMadura staff and is being published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured video of the day
On camera, AAP MLA Gulab Singh Yadav beaten up in Delhi
