India and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cultural and tourism ties during a high-level meeting between Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov in New Delhi on Friday.

The talks centered on expanding India’s participation in upcoming cultural events in Russia and fostering greater collaboration in the cultural and humanitarian spheres. Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, along with senior officials from the Ministries of Culture and External Affairs, also attended the meeting.

According to the Russian Embassy in India, the two sides discussed “issues of bilateral humanitarian cooperation and intercultural dialogue,” and explored ways to enhance tourist exchange.

The meeting is part of a wider effort to promote people-to-people contact and establish long-term cultural partnerships through joint festivals, exhibitions, and tourism initiatives.

A notable recent example was the nine-day ‘Bharat Utsav’ (Festival of India), held in Moscow’s Manezhnaya Square from July 5 to 13. The event showcased India’s heritage through yoga, cuisine, crafts, and performances, and was part of Moscow’s larger ‘Summer in Moscow’ festival.

India and Russia share a longstanding cultural bond. Russian philosopher Nicholas Roerich made India his home in Himachal Pradesh. Influential Russian writers like Leo Tolstoy and Alexander Pushkin deeply impacted Indian literature and reform movements. Indian cinema was highly popular in the Soviet era, with classic Bollywood films widely screened across the country—a legacy fondly remembered even today. Yoga also continues to enjoy immense popularity across Russia.

Both nations emphasized the importance of continuing cultural dialogue and building on their shared history to create new platforms for exchange and collaboration.