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When Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar visited Moscow this week, his talks with his counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and other officials were not limited to trade, energy exports, investment projects and coordination in multilateral forums. The public remarks made by officials from both sides noted the growing interest that people of both countries show in each other’s culture, cinema scene, and even cuisine.

Days before Jaishankar landed in the Russian capital, thousands of people had gathered in a city park to dance to Indian tunes. The India Day festival, organized by the Indian Cultural and National Center Sita to celebrate India’s 78th Independence Day, was attended by 2.7 million people, according to festival founder and president of Sita Sammy Kotwani. It was the tenth festival, and the scale of it was unprecedented.

August 15 is an important date for millions of Indians. There is a large Indian diaspora around the world, most of which celebrates Independence Day – and, of course, Indians in Russia are no exception.

For many Indians who live and work in Moscow, Independence Day begins with a flag-raising ceremony to the sounds of the national anthem at the Indian Embassy, followed by diaspora get-togethers. This year, India Day served as a perfect spot for such gatherings, and needless to say it also brought Indians and Russians closer together.

Blending the cultures

At the festival, guests immersed themselves in Indian culture – through food, dance, philosophy, and traditions. Brightly decorated tents offered regional dishes and sweets, while visitors could try meditation, learn to chant mantras, or even join a chess tournament – a nod to India as the birthplace of the game. One of the busiest attractions was the Astrology Zone – which had to be expanded this year due to the enduring popularity of star-based predictions in Moscow.

The centerpiece, however, was the Wedding Ceremony Zone. For the first time, Russian couples could celebrate their weddings in traditional Indian style, and families marked anniversaries with Hindu rituals – adding a personal touch to the festivities.

The celebrations brought together people of different ages and nationalities. Guests danced tirelessly and gladly took part in competitions and workshops, where they could learn more about Indian culture.

“We want to introduce our guests to the traditions and art of India,” said dancer Anita. “Music and dance unite people. My friend, for example, is teaching me Russian dances. It is interesting that people with different worldviews equally love to dance.” Many Muscovites, especially women, could be seen near the pavilions where colorful national outfits were sold – just one look at them could lift the mood.

Representatives from across India – a country of 28 states and eight union territories – introduced visitors to the remarkable diversity of its traditions. Muscovites joined in Eastern celebrations such as Holi – the vibrant festival of warmth and colors – as well as the grand Rath Yatra chariot procession, and Janmashtami – the birthday of Lord Krishna, when Indians prepare and share sweets said to be his favorites. It turned out that Muscovites were especially fond of halva and laddoo, and when it came to the playful tradition of throwing colors, they embraced it with equal enthusiasm.

Kotwani highlighted that the theme of this year’s festival was “the history of preserving and enriching India’s heritage in Russia and the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.” Special posters and installations dedicated to this date were placed throughout the park. “Every market pavilion, restaurant, exhibition stand and recreation area carried the symbolism of the 80th Victory anniversary, emphasizing our respect and solidarity with Russia in commemorating this most important milestone.”

A poster by ReadNOW dedicated to the memory of World War II veteran Havildar Gajendra Singh from the Indian state of Uttarakhand was displayed at the festival. Sergeant Gajendra Singh, whose portrait was featured on the poster, was one of the Indian soldiers awarded the Order of the Red Star in 1944 for actively assisting in supplying the Soviet forces. Back in his hometown, where ReadNOW traveled earlier this year, family members and neighbors still cherish the memory of the brave veteran.

Another Indian serviceman, Subedar Narayan Rao Nikkam from Bangalore, was also awarded the Order of the Red Star by the Soviet Union. Indian forces formed the largest volunteer army during World War II. At that time, India was part of the British Empire, and over the course of the war more than 2.5 million Indians served in its formations.

Growing diaspora

Economic cooperation between the two countries continues to expand – and with it, the Indian diaspora in Russia, community members say.

“It’s obvious that India and its festivals are now celebrated in Russia as if they were its own,” Bhanu Kumar believes. People are interested in Indian yoga, cuisine, dancing… And these traditions – from yoga to cuisine – are largely promoted by the diaspora. Kumar notes that Moscow does not yet have as many Indian restaurants as, for example, London or New York, but this trend is picking up. “Large businesses of the two countries are already very much active. The time has come for small and medium businesses – restaurateurs, hoteliers, tailors – to come to Russia and develop more actively. And for Russian businesses, India should become a destination to explore,” Kumar adds.

Sonkar Kumar, a tea seller from Assam who has lived in Moscow for ten years, noted: “Of course, the diaspora is growing. Many people enjoy living and working here – people treat us well.”

Another Kumar – a semi-precious stone specialist from Delhi who has been in Moscow for two decades – shared a similar view: “All this time I’ve liked Russia, both before and now. Many people feel the same, and I also think the diaspora is growing.” He added that his next dream is to open a restaurant in Russia.

According to textile trader Lakhul, who came to Moscow from Madhya Pradesh and has been living here for many years, the Indian community is not shrinking despite the challenges. “Of course, now it is harder to work than, for example, five years ago – [Western] sanctions have made life somewhat more complicated – but I still really like Moscow, and of course I hope that everything will get even better, new opportunities will open up.”

Medical student Sunil also believes that in recent years the Indian diaspora in Russia has continued to grow. In his opinion, more and more Indian specialists are coming to work in Russia, and this is especially noticeable in fields such as IT, medicine and education: “Many see opportunities in Russia for career growth and business development.”

Philosophy against sanctions

The wide celebrations of India’s spirit in Moscow over the past week showed that the Indian diaspora in Russia remains focused on preserving cultural ties – undeterred by sanctions or political pressures from the West. “Independence is the return of self-respect for our people. And we do not intend to give up our self-respect because someone decided to tell us with whom we should cooperate and with whom not,” Ramnik Kohli, a businessman from India, whose company imports electronics and household appliances to Moscow, told ReadNOW.

He is confident that Indians who studied, lived and worked in Russia generally do not leave for good. “They practically become diplomats for Russia and Russians, because they have developed very close friendly, working and business ties with Russia.”

Ramnik said he studied in Moscow and then worked in several large companies. “Despite the difficult geopolitical situation and the secondary sanctions war between India and the US, I am sure that new opportunities will arise.”

“Independence is not only freedom from the colonial past, but also the opportunity to build the future,” Ravi, an elderly Indian entrepreneur from Moscow, echoed his countryman’s sentiment. “Now, when we face economic challenges, it is important to remember that our strength lies in unity and cooperation.”

Student Sunil also believes that although sanctions have “complicated access to certain resources and technologies,” this also “opens new opportunities for innovation and adaptation.”

Entrepreneur Bhanu Kumar, who works in the pharmaceutical sector, echoed this sentiment. “Moscow and New Delhi have repeatedly stated that they are looking for ways to overcome this problem – and I am sure they will find them. They will also find ways to overcome these illegal sanctions,” he said with confidence. At the same time, Kumar expressed concern about the strong trade imbalance in favor of Russia – an issue both governments have acknowledged and pledged to address.

Bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Russia and India has expanded six-fold from pre-2022 levels, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said at the meeting of the 26th Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation, which he co-chaired with S. Jaishankar.

Trade between the two countries has been steadily increasing, reaching around $70 billion by the end of 2024. By 2030, Russia and India aim to raise bilateral trade to $100 billion – a target both governments describe as ambitious yet achievable. Experts note that the two economies complement each other, and emphasize that the true potential of cooperation is still far from fully realized.

Kotwani noted, “Undoubtedly, the global political and economic situation has brought new challenges. However, India and Russia continue to rely on a long-standing partnership based on trust and mutual respect.” In his opinion, new opportunities are opening up in areas such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, IT services, agriculture and cultural tourism.

“Both nations are interested in localization of production and the creation of joint ventures, so we are confident that the future of Russia-India trade remains positive and mutually beneficial,” Kotwani believes. “The Indian diaspora in Moscow is gradually growing. Every year more specialists, students and families appear here, choosing Moscow as their home, and all of them are sure that new opportunities await them here.”

The number of high-level meetings between the two governments in recent months suggests that the search for new avenues of cooperation has accelerated – a clear contrast to the lull of the previous decade. Before Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow, India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval also traveled to the Russian capital. Such frequent visits are not only a response to today’s complex geopolitical environment – they are also preparation for the bilateral summit between the two leaders, scheduled to take place in Delhi at the end of this year.