Rivers in focus as 6th Nadi Utsav opens on 25th September at IGNCA

Rivers take center stage at the 6th edition of Nadi Utsav, opening on 25th September 2025 at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in New Delhi. This vibrant three-day festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture, celebrates rivers not just as ecological lifelines but as cultural and artistic inspirations.

Festival Highlights:
- Inauguration: Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C. R. Patil will inaugurate the event at Samvet Auditorium, with Padma Bhushan awardee Ram Bahadur Rai chairing the session.

- National Seminar: Titled “Riverscape Dynamics: Changes and Continuity”, featuring 45 selected research papers from over 300 submissions, in collaboration with the University of Delhi.

- Documentary Film Festival – My River Story:
- Gotakhors: Disappearing Diving Communities
- River Man of India
- Arth Ganga
- Molai – Man Behind the Forest
- Cauvery – River of Life
- Ladakh – Life along the Indus

Cultural Performances:
- Classical renditions by Guru Smt. Sudha Raghuraman
- Dastangoi storytelling in Ganga Gaatha by Himanshu Bajpai and Pragya
- River songs from Bengal by Saurav Moni and ensemble

Art Exhibition – Nadi Anubhav:
- Held at Darshanam Gallery (25–30 September)
- Curated by Anuj Agarwal
- Featuring Kalighat paintings, photographs, and poetic expressions on rivers

Closing Session:
- Panel discussion on “Life along the Rivers: Tributaries and Livelihoods”, exploring the deep ties between rivers and community sustenance.

This festival is a beautiful confluence of tradition, ecology, and creativity. If you’re anywhere near Delhi, it’s worth diving into.