New Delhi: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is set to host the sixth edition of Nadi Utsav from 25 to 27 September, bringing rivers into focus as ecological lifelines and cultural treasures. The festival will open on 25 September at 4:30 pm at IGNCA’s Samvet Auditorium. Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil will inaugurate the event, with Ram Bahadur Rai, Padma Bhushan awardee and President of the IGNCA Trust, chairing the session. The welcome address will be delivered by Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA.
At a press briefing held on 23 September at IGNCA’s Janpath premises, Prof. K. Anil Kumar, Head of the Janapada Sampada Division, and Abhay Mishra, Convenor of Nadi Utsav, highlighted the festival’s intent to celebrate rivers as both natural and cultural reservoirs.
This year’s edition features a wide range of programmes. A National Seminar on Riverscape Dynamics: Changes and Continuity will anchor the academic discussions, with sessions delving into traditional riverine knowledge, folk narratives, river deities, and the place of rivers in art, craft, and science. Over 300 research papers were received for the seminar, of which 45 will be presented in collaboration with the Department of English, University of Delhi.
Running alongside the seminar is My River Story – Documentary Film Festival, which will showcase 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 films shed light on ecological concerns, community practices, and the enduring bond between people and rivers.
The cultural segment will enrich the festival with performances and storytelling. Highlights include Classical Renditions on Rivers by Guru Sudha Raghuraman and her team, Ganga Gaatha (Dastangoi) by Himanshu Bajpai and Pragya, and River Songs from Bengal by Saurav Moni and ensemble. Each performance reflects the creative inspiration rivers bring to music, poetry, and oral traditions.
Adding a visual dimension, the exhibition Nadi Anubhav will run from 25 to 30 September at the Darshanam Gallery. Curated by Anuj Agarwal, it will showcase contemporary artworks, Kalighat paintings, photographs, and poetic expressions dedicated to rivers—blending artistic imagination with ecological awareness.
The festival will close on 27 September with a valedictory session, preceded by a panel discussion on Life along the Rivers: Tributaries and Livelihoods, which will spotlight how communities and livelihoods are intrinsically tied to river systems.
Speaking at the press conference, Prof. Anil Kumar described Nadi Utsav as “a continuing effort to honour rivers not only as ecological entities but also as cultural lifelines.” Abhay Mishra added that the event “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 reinforcing the collective responsibility to preserve them for generations to come.