Bharat Mela 2026 turns Kuwait’s Green Island into a living canvas of India’s culture

The Times Kuwait Report

• A spectacular celebration of culture, cuisine and community, Bharat Mela 2026 transformed Green Island into a vibrant showcase of India’s timeless traditions, drawing tens of thousands of  visitors in a powerful display of cultural friendship between India and Kuwait.

The scenic waterfront of Green Island came alive with color, music and celebration as Bharat Mela 2026 unfolded in grand style on Friday, bringing together cultures, communities and traditions in one of the largest public cultural gatherings held in Kuwait this year.

Organized by the Embassy of India in Kuwait in collaboration with the Touristic Enterprise Company (TEC), the day-long festival attracted an extraordinary crowd of tens of thousands, including members of the Indian diaspora, diplomats, Kuwaiti nationals and foreign naitonals who are residents of Kuwait all drawn to a shared celebration of heritage by the Arabian Gulf.

A Grand Opening Rooted in Tradition

The festival was inaugurated by H.E. Paramita Tripathi, Ambassador-Designate of India to Kuwait, who lit the ceremonial traditional lamp, symbolizing knowledge and unity, as the powerful rhythms of Kerala’s Panchavadyam percussion ensemble echoed across the seafront.

In her address, Ambassador Tripathi emphasized the importance of cultural dialogue in strengthening the deep-rooted friendship between India and Kuwait. She praised the Indian community’s longstanding contributions to Kuwait’s social and economic landscape, noting that people-to-people connections remain the strongest pillar of bilateral relations.

Bharat Mela offered visitors an authentic culinary journey across India’s vast regional landscape. Aromatic northern delicacies, rich southern specialties, beloved street foods and festive traditional dishes delighted crowds, while stalls serving classic Indian sweets added a celebratory sweetness to the experience.

More than 30 vibrant stalls lined the venue, creating a bustling marketplace that blended gastronomy with cultural discovery.

The cultural program stood at the heart of the celebration, featuring 57 performances by over 700 artists representing India’s remarkable diversity. Performers dressed in traditional attire presented classical and folk dances, contemporary musical acts, performance yoga demonstrations and martial arts displays.

Highlights included captivating performances by the Dawoodi Bohra community’s “Burhani Band,” the thunderous Panchavadyam ensemble, energetic Punjabi dhol drumming and spontaneous flash mobs that drew enthusiastic audience participation.

Artists ranging in age from four to over sixty years reflected the intergenerational spirit of cultural preservation and celebration.

Beyond the stage, visitors explored interactive exhibits showcasing Indian textiles, handicrafts and tourism destinations. Guests experienced traditional attire, henna artistry, bangle and bindi adornment, and cultural awareness initiatives such as the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” environmental campaign.

A dedicated children’s play zone ensured that families enjoyed a wholesome and inclusive atmosphere, while dynamic emcees and cultural coordinators sustained the festival’s lively momentum throughout the day.

A Bridge Between Cultures

Held from noon until sunset with free public entry, Bharat Mela transformed the coastal venue into an open-air cultural village where the sights, sounds and flavours of India blended seamlessly with Kuwait’s welcoming spirit.

More than a festival, Bharat Mela 2026 emerged as a powerful symbol of cultural diplomacy, offering Kuwaiti society a vivid window into India’s living traditions while reinforcing bonds of friendship and mutual respect between the two nations.

The Embassy of India extended heartfelt appreciation to sponsors, performers, volunteers and visitors whose collective enthusiasm turned the event into a resounding success, a celebration not only of heritage, but of unity, diversity and shared human connection.