Embassy of India, Yangon, Myanmar
Ambassador’s Speeches Ambassador’s Speeches

Closing Ceremony- Dance Workshop at the National University of Arts and Culture (23 July 2025)

Remarks by Ambassador Abhay Thakur at the Closing Ceremony– Dance Workshop at the National University of Arts and Culture (NUAC) 23 July 2025, Yangon

Dr. Kay Thi Htwe, Rector of the National University of Arts and Culture,
Respected faculty members and students,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon,

It is a pleasure and an honour to be here with you today at the closing ceremony of this vibrant and inspiring Dance Workshop, jointly organized by the National University of Arts and Culture (NUAC) and the Embassy of India, through the Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre (SVCC), Yangon.

This two-day workshop is a testimony to the growing cultural cooperation between India and Myanmar. Dance, as a timeless and universal expression of human emotion and storytelling, has always served as a powerful medium for connecting hearts across borders. The classical and folk-dance traditions of both our countries reflect shared values, spiritual depth, and centuries-old civilizational ties.

The Embassy of India, through SVCC, remains committed to deepening these cultural linkages through regular exchanges, capacity-building initiatives, and collaborative performances.

Over the past 18 months, we have had the honour of facilitating and supporting several notable India–Myanmar cultural exchange programs, including:

  1. A team of 20 artists and artisansfrom Myanmar participated in the Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2025, representing Myanmar's rich artistic heritage.
  2. A 5-member Ramayana Performing art troupe from Myanmar visited India to participate in ICCR’s “International Ramayana Performing Art Workshop” held at Kolkata.
  3. 3 performing artistsrepresented Myanmar at the historic Kullu Dussehra Festival in Himachal Pradesh.
  4. A 6-member musical ensemblefrom Myanmar is scheduled to perform at the 1st BIMSTEC Musical Festival to be held from 30 July – 4 August 2025 at Kolkata and Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

In addition, we have welcomed numerous Myanmar students and professionals to India under the ICCR Scholarship Programs, including specialized training in music, dance, and fine arts.

We are also proud to offer the Lata Mangeshkar Music Scholarship under the ITEC Program, specially designed for students pursuing classical Indian music.

At our Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre (SVCC) in Yangon, we continue to run regular cultural and educational programs to strengthen people-to-people ties, including:

  • Bharatanatyam Dance Classes
  • Yoga Classesfor wellness and mindfulness
  • Hindi Language Classes, supporting linguistic and literary exchange
  • And from this month onwards, we are pleased to announce the launch of Indian Classical Music Classesat SVCC.

This dance workshop has not only enhanced the skills of the participating students and instructors but has also served as a bridge to foster deeper cultural understanding between our two countries. It is heartening to witness such enthusiastic participation and the fruitful collaboration between NUAC and SVCC.

I extend my sincere appreciation to Dr. Kay Thi Htwe and her team at NUAC for their continued commitment to cultural partnership, and I also congratulate the team of instructors from SVCC for their dedicated efforts in making this workshop a success.

Let us continue to build upon this momentum and work together to create more opportunities for cultural dialogue, artistic growth, and mutual understanding between India and Myanmar.

Thank you.
Jai Bharat.