Indian Embassy to bring ‘Mini India’ to Seoul on May 16
Indian Ambassador to Korea Gourangalal Das speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Embassy of India in Korea
The Embassy of India in Seoul will host the inaugural India Day festival at Yeouido Hangang Park on May 16, marking the first large-scale outdoor cultural festival organized by the embassy. Designed to bring India’s ancient traditions and modern development together in one place, the event aims to offer Korean citizens an opportunity to experience the country’s rich traditional culture, cuisine and regional diversity.
Speaking during a press conference held at the embassy in Seoul on Thursday, Indian Ambassador to Korea Gourangalal Das said the initiative was intended to provide the Korean public with a deeper understanding of India amid rapidly expanding strategic ties between the two countries.
“We decided to do it because there is a sense that the level of cultural understanding and awareness about India and Korea is not deep enough, strong enough and comprehensive enough,” Das said at the press conference.
He emphasized that culture is increasingly viewed as a key pillar of bilateral cooperation. The ambassador noted that the festival reflects agreements reached during President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to India last month, when the leaders of the two countries pledged to expand exchanges across various sectors.
“So this was also discussed between the two leaders (last month) that culture can act as an engine for everything else that we do, because ultimately it is about people. If people do not feel strongly about the relationship, then everything else that you do becomes superficial,” the ambassador said.
Indian Ambassador to Korea Gourangalal Das speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Embassy of India in Korea
The ambassador said the festival is also intended to help Koreans gain a more comprehensive understanding of India beyond familiar stereotypes.
“Some people in Korea might know only about a little small slice of India, but to get the whole picture, I think this is an effort,” he said. “I’m not saying that we will be able to represent the entirety of India in a small space in Hangang Park, but the idea is that we will try to give you a good enough sample of India so that people can then go and discover more,” the said.
The ambassador also highlighted the growing Indian community in Korea, which currently numbers around 18,000 people.
Poster image advertising 2026 India Day on May 16 at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul / Courtesy of Embassy of India in Seoul
“They also would like to showcase their states, their own personal talents and anything they want to articulate about India to the Korean public,” he said. “If we provide them a platform to do that, I think much more awareness about India can be created.”
The festival will transform Yeouido Hangang Park into what organizers describe as a “Mini India,” featuring cultural performances, Indian cuisine, tourism exhibits, handicrafts, films, yoga activities and regional showcases representing India’s diverse states and traditions.
Visitors will be able to enjoy Indian classical dance performances including Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Odissi, alongside contemporary music and folk performances by Indian and Korean artists. Food trucks, interactive cultural booths, tourism promotions and exhibitions of Indian products and crafts will also be featured throughout the venue.
Alongside India Day, the embassy also announced a nationwide series of events marking the 12th International Day of Yoga in June, with programs planned in Seoul, Busan, Jeju Island and Nami Island.
“We hope it will continue to raise awareness about yoga and the benefits that yoga will bring,” the ambassador said.