Around 40,000 visitors at the “Indian Village” during INDIA SUMMER DAYS Karlsruhe 2025
Music, dance, culinary delights, bazaars, yoga, and an immersive cultural experience – the INDIA SUMMER DAYS 2025 once again thrilled tens of thousands of visitors as part of DAS FEST in Karlsruhe. The “Indian Village”, expanded in size for its seventh edition, proved once more to be a major attraction and a visible symbol of the close and growing partnership between Karlsruhe and India.
The authentic cultural program offered great variety once again: from traditional Bharatanatyam and Bollywood dance to yoga workshops, cricket, and henna art – numerous stalls invited visitors to participate, experience, learn, and feel India up close. On stage, performances by groups such as Dindi Dance and Lasya Priya Fine Arts from Karlsruhe and the Revathi Dance Academy from Munich created emotional highlights. The Kirtaniyas energized the audience with modern mantra beats, Ravi Bhatt from Jaipur fascinated with traditional puppet theatre, and the bazaar featured handcrafted goods and delicious Indian cuisine.
Organized by KME Karlsruhe Marketing and Event GmbH together with strong partners such as the Consulate General of India, the Honorary Consulate, Indien Aktuell, and the German-Indian Society, the INDIA SUMMER DAYS offer a free, low-barrier cultural experience for all generations. “India comes alive here in Karlsruhe – with all senses,” said KME Managing Director Martin Wacker, inviting the public to fully embrace the Indian atmosphere. “This cultural bridge fosters understanding, connection, and friendship.”
INDIA SUMMER DAYS Embedded in “India Week”
Whether it was the academic cooperation between Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences and NMIMS, cultural exchanges between ZKM and the Goethe-Institutes in Pune and Mumbai, partnerships with KIT, or links between Karlsruhe’s startup scene and a hub in Hyderabad – the program reflected the city’s growing India activities. In his opening remarks, Karlsruhe’s Lord Mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup emphasized the impact of the India Board Karlsruhe, which now has around 250 members supporting bilateral engagement across science, business, education, tourism, and culture.
This network played a key role in shaping the India Week, a dynamic program surrounding the INDIA SUMMER DAYS, featuring exhibitions, readings, film screenings, “Startup Days”, cooking classes, and a skilled labor forum. This spirit of exchange was also highlighted by Rajiv Chitkara, Cultural Attaché at the Indian Consulate General in Munich.
Once again, Karlsruhe presented itself as a vibrant hub for Indo-German exchange, offering space for dialogue, creativity, and meaningful encounters. Around 40,000 visitors with an affinity for India attended the INDIA SUMMER DAYS this year, making southern Germany’s largest India festival a major success – packed with hands-on activities and an emotional grand finale on the main cultural stage. Karlsruhe shows that lived partnerships begin with encounters – and thrive through the joy of cultural diversity.
You must be logged in to post a comment.