First BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival organise in New Delhi

(Forelines) – On August 4, 2025 the first BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival was held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s declaration at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, which reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties in the Bay of Bengal Region, was fulfilled by this first major BIMSTEC cultural event.

“The Festival served as a vibrant platform to promote and celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the BIMSTEC region. The event brought together musicians from all the BIMSTEC countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Srilanka and Thailand – showcasing traditional music, instrumental and folk expressions, reflecting the soul of South and Southeast Asia and the ancient linkages that bind the countries of the region,” India’s MEA said in a statement.

Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, opened the event, which emphasized the value of cultural exchange as a pillar of regional cooperation and the role that culture and tradition play as essential symbols of identity in fostering respect, dialogue, and harmony.