President Mukherjee Inaugurates “Namaste Russia’ festival

11 May, Moscow
The President Mr Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated Namaste Russia, a festival of Indian culture, in Moscow Sunday on the last leg of his tour in Russia. Inaugurating the festival, the President said, it is cultural bonds that build solid bridges of friendship and understanding between peoples and countries.
He said that the festival will reach various regions in Russia that will help people living in different regions of Russia to deepen their engagement with contemporary and classical Indian Culture.

The six month long festival will enthrall the Russian audience with cultural events from India. There will also be a conference organized in partnership with the Russian indologists and an exhibition of Indian painting and sculpture will also be organized during the festival.
As part of the inauguration Sunday a Kathak dance performance was given by a team of dancers choreographed by Padma Bhushan Kumudini Lakhia. The festival is being hosted under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations