Celebrating 55 Years of Friendship: Highlights from the Indian in Bahrain Festival 2026
by: BTM - Mon, 09 Feb 2026
The third edition of the “Indian in Bahrain” Festival was held at Dana Mall in Bahrain on 06 February 2026. The Festival was jointly inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Vinod K Jacob, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Bahrain, H. E. Mr. Abdulnabi Al Shoala, former Minister of Labour of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Mr. Abdulrahman Juma, Chairman of the Bahrain India Society and Dr. Varghese Kurian, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardee.
Celebrating Diplomatic Ties and Community Collaboration
This is the second year running that the Embassy of India, Bahrain has collaborated with Dana Mall under the stewardship of Mr. Juzer Rupawala and the numerous Indian community associations to organize the event. The MC for the evening was Editor of “Salaam Bahrain” and long-time writer and resident of Bahrain, Ms. Meera Ravi. This year’s event is significant because 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bahrain.
Cultural and Culinary Highlights
The Festival comprised two main segments: cultural programs and the various food and cultural artifacts stalls set up by various Indian community associations. A highlight of the evening was the Bahraini cultural dance presented by artistes belonging to the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam.
Indian Dance Forms and Cultural Displays
Other presentations revolved around the rich Indian traditional, folk and contemporary dance forms.The five most prominent dance forms of India are Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kathak (Uttar Pradesh), Kathakali (Kerala), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), and Odissi (Odisha). Food dishes, beverages and desserts from different parts of India were presented in the stalls. Also on display were the colorful and aesthetic Indian dresses.
Sports and Bilateral Celebrations
Earlier in the day, the Indian Embassy cricket team played two cricket matches with a team from Kanoo Group to celebrate 55 years of diplomatic relations between India and Bahrain and to highlight the importance of sports in everyday life. The private sector plays an important and significant role in bilateral commercial and people-to-people ties between India and Bahrain. A film festival is also scheduled for 7 February 2026 as part of the events commemorating the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Digital Edition
Bahrain This Month
May 2026
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