The sixth Nadi Utsav will be inaugurated by Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C. R. Patil on 25th September at 4:30 PM in the Samvet Auditorium of IGNCA. Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, Padma Bhushan awardee and President of the IGNCA Trust, will chair the inaugural session, while the welcome address will be delivered by Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA.  The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, held a press conference on 23rd September 2025 at its Janpath premises for the forthcoming 6th edition of Nadi Utsav. The conference was addressed by Prof. K. Anil Kumar, Head, Janapada Sampada Division, IGNCA, and Shri Abhay Mishra, Convenor, Nadi Utsav.

The Nadi Utsav will take place from 25^th to 27^th September 2025, presenting an extensive line-up of programmes that highlight rivers as vital lifelines as well as cultural and imaginative reservoirs. Over the course of three days, the festival will feature a National Seminar on ‘Riverscape Dynamics: Changes and Continuity’ that will bring together sessions on traditional riverine knowledge and wisdom, river gods and folk narratives, the river in art, craft practices, and science and rivers. Eminent scholars and experts will share their perspectives, engaging in dialogues that emphasise the cultural, ecological, and artistic dimensions of rivers. In connection with the seminar, more than 300 research papers were received, of which 45 will be presented during the sessions, with the Department of English, University of Delhi, collaborating in this segment of the festival.

Running parallel to the seminar will be ‘My River Story – Documentary Film Festival’, which will present thought-provoking films such as ‘Gotakhors: Disappearing Diving Communities’, ‘River Man of India’, ‘Arth Ganga’, ‘Molai – Man Behind the Forest’, ‘Cauvery – River of Life, and Ladakh – Life along the Indus’. These screenings portray ecological concerns, community practices, and the enduring human connection with rivers, drawing attention to the multiple ways in which river systems shape lives and landscapes.

Adding a rich artistic layer to the festival, the performances and storytelling segment will include Classical Renditions on Rivers by Guru Smt. Sudha Raghuraman and her team, Ganga Gaatha (Dastangoi) by Himanshu Bajpai and Pragya, and River Songs from Bengal by Saurav Moni and his ensemble. These performances will present creative reflections on riverine traditions, showcasing how rivers continue to inspire musical, poetic, and oral traditions across regions. Complementing these will be the exhibition Nadi Anubhav, to be held at the Darshanam Gallery from 25th to 30th September 2025. The exhibition curated by Anuj Agarwal will display contemporary artworks, Kalighat paintings, photographs, and poetic expressions dedicated to rivers, creating a space where artistic imagination and ecological consciousness converge.

The festival will conclude with a valedictory session on 27th September, which will be preceded by a panel discussion on ‘Life along the Rivers: Tributaries and Livelihoods.’ This discussion will bring together voices of practitioners and experts who will reflect on the relationship between rivers and community livelihoods, further strengthening the theme of continuity between ecological sustenance and cultural practice. At the press conference, Prof. K. Anil Kumar noted that Nadi Utsav is a continuing effort to honour rivers not only as ecological entities but also as cultural lifelines. Abhay Mishra observed that the festival deepens the dialogue between tradition and contemporary practices, ensuring that communities remain connected with their riverine roots. Through its seminars, films, performances, and exhibitions, the 6th Nadi Utsav will reaffirm the profound relationship between rivers, ecology, and culture, while encouraging collective responsibility for their preservation.

Click here for complete program schedule

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

(Release ID: 2170257)