Posted on 4 August 2025:

SaptaSur: BIMSTEC Music Festival Unites Seven Nations in Harmony at Bharat Mandapam

This evening, the resplendent halls of Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi will echo with the soul of seven nations, as the inaugural BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival—SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody—unfolds in a celebration of shared heritage and sonic diversity. 

Inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the festival brings together masterful artists from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Each performance is a thread in the vibrant tapestry of regional unity, woven through rhythm and resonance. 

SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody

“This evening will feature a remarkable line-up of seven ensembles, each showcasing the musical identity of its country. From Sri Lanka, the ‘State Dance Ensemble’ will present traditional percussion rhythms, while Dorji Tenzin & Sonam Yangzom with Ensemble from Bhutan will offer poetic chants and folk melodies. Bangladesh’s ‘Mon Kuthuri’ will bring the soulful sounds of Bangladesh, and ‘Kutumba’from Nepal will present vibrant native folk music. A troupe from Myanmar’s National University of Arts and Culture will showcase the grace of traditional Burmese music, and Thailand’s ‘SUN DER’ will blend Isaan folk with modern energy. 

Representing India, the specially curated ‘String of the World’ ensemble, led by the renowned violinist Shri Sharat Chandra Srivastava, will form the melodic thread uniting the evening – ‘SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody,” — ICCR Press Release

This landmark event, rooted in the vision articulated at the BIMSTEC Summit held in Thailand this year, marks India’s  commitment to strengthening regional cultural ties through music,  and a pivotal moment in cultural diplomacy—where music becomes the bridge, and tradition the language of connection.