"Since its inception in 2015, the Sarang Festival has blossomed into a flagship cultural event of the embassy that introduces the rich and diverse heritage of India to our friends in Korea," Amit Kumar said.
The festival's name, "Sarang," which means "love" in Korean, refers to "colorful" in Hindi, representing "diversity."
This year's festival, which kicks off its 9-day run on Oct. 1, will feature Kuchipudi dance performances in various Korean cities, including Busan, Gwangju, and Seoul. The classical Indian dance form is distinguished by its elegant movements, expressive gestures, and intricate footwork.
Kuchipudi dancers, led by renowned choreographer Shreelakshmy Govardhanan, will start their tour with a performance at Yonsei University in Seoul. The troupe's performances and workshops are expected to delight dance enthusiasts and others here.
Their itinerary includes stops in Seoul (Oct. 1 and 7), Ansan, Gyeonggi Province (Oct. 2), Gwangju (Oct. 3), Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province (Oct. 4), Nami Island (Oct. 5-6), and Busan (Oct. 8-9).
The ambassador highlighted that the festival will feature award-winning and critically acclaimed Indian films with Korean subtitles for cinema lovers in Korea, as the embassy will offer screenings of six Indian films – "Bahubali: The Beginning" (2015), "Bahubali 2: The Conclusion" (2017), "Dangal" (2016), "Gulmohar" (2023), "Kantara" (2022), and "Piku" (2015).
For the first time, the embassy will also participate in this year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) to showcase India's vibrant cinema industry and highlight the country as a potential filming destination.
Indian officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will attend the festival, which is scheduled to be held in the southern port city from Oct. 2 to 11.
