📰 In News – First BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival
- Event: 1st-ever BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival
- Date & Venue: September 10, 2025 | Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- Organised by: Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)
- Theme/Title: SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody
Key Highlights
- Inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
- Artists from all 7 BIMSTEC nationsperformed:
- India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand.
- Emphasised music as cultural diplomacy – a bridge between nations and a medium to showcase identity and heritage.
- Marks a significant cultural milestone in BIMSTEC cooperation.
- Initiative announced by PM Narendra Modi at the BIMSTEC Summit (Thailand, April 2025).
Significance for UPSC
- Strengthens India’s cultural diplomacy and soft power.
- Reflects BIMSTEC’s role beyond economic & security cooperation into cultural integration.
- Part of India’s Act East Policy and Neighborhood First Policy.
- Showcases India as a regional leader in promoting cultural ties.
Updated - August 4, 2025 8:12 AM