Indian Cultural Congress to Convene in Kerala, Bringing Together Voices of Cultural Pluralism from Across India

Kerala, a southern Indian state known for its vibrant cultural traditions and progressive public discourse, will host the Indian Cultural Congress, the country’s first-ever national cultural congress, from 20 to 22 December 2025 in Ernakulam.

Event Details
- Dates: 20–22 December 2025
- Location: Ernakulam, Kerala
- Venues: Spread across eight cultural spaces in the city
- Organizers: A collective of cultural institutions and organizations, supported by the Department of Culture, Government of Kerala

Inaugural Ceremony
- Chief Guest: Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala
- Presiding: Shri Saji Cherian, Minister for Culture, Government of Kerala
- Special Address: Shri P. Rajeev, Minister for Law, Industry and Commerce, Government of Kerala
- Notable Attendees:
- Filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan
- Poet Ashok Vajpeyi
- Writer-lyricist Suddala Ashok Teja

Performances & Exhibitions:
- Theatre, film screenings, visual art, lectures, workshops, and street performances
- Tribal, folk, ritualistic, and classical art forms from across India

Panel Discussions & Seminars:
- Literature, cinema, music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and people’s movements
- Focus on pluralism, multilingualism, fraternity, equality, and peace

Special Features:
- Platforms for transgender artists, linguistic minorities, and differently-abled performers
- Painting exhibition by Palestinian artists, highlighting global solidarity

Distinguished Participants
- Writers & Thinkers: Javed Akhtar, K. Satchidanandan, M. Mukundan, Rajathi Salma, G.N. Devy
- Cinema & Theatre: Saeed Mirza, Ratna Pathak Shah
- Music & Dance: Umayalpuram Sivaraman, Kalamandalam Gopi, Shantha Dhananjayan
- Journalism & Politics: Siddharth Varadarajan, Kanimozhi
- Valedictory Ceremony: Inaugurated by actor Mammootty, who will also be honored for his contributions to cinema and culture

Significance
- First-ever national cultural congress in India
- Aims to foreground India’s pluralistic and multilingual heritage
- Promotes dialogue, fraternity, and peace through cultural exchange
- Open to international participants with free registration for seminars and discussions via the Directorate of Culture, Government of Kerala website culturedirectorate.kerala.gov.in

This event is shaping up to be a landmark cultural gathering, bringing together voices from across India and beyond.