India Hosts 1st BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival ‘SaptaSur’

Dr. S. Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs, opened the first BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival which is known as SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody in New Delhi. All of the BIMSTEC member countries, including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, performed in it. People-to-people interactions and the regional cultural diversity are the focus areas of the festival that is consistent with the Act East Policy and Neighbourhood First Policy of India.

Context

• The first ever BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival titled 'SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody' was launched by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi.

Key Points

• Date: 5 August 2025

• Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

• Organized by: Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)

The Importance of the Festival

• The first-of-its-kind cultural convergence of BIMSTEC countries in the form of music.

• Delivers the promise of PM Modi of promoting regional cultural cooperation expressed at the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand (April 2025).

• Uses soft power diplomacy and empowers cultural diplomacy because of the exchange in art.

• Promotes unity of the region, respectfulness and shared culture between South and Southeast Asia.

About BIMSTEC

Conclusion

The BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival is the cultural landmark of India in the course of its multilateral outreach to other countries. The festival reinforces the regional ties by emphasizing on the cultural unity in variety, it further underlines Indian excellence in promoting the people driven regionalism relying on the soft power instruments, such as music and art, or cultural festivals.