NEWS & EVENTS

Greek singer Kostas Kalaitzis in the Kumbh Global Participation Event in New Delhi

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) organized a special event at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in Delhi on February 23, 2019, to felicitate delegates from 188 countries, who were invited by the Indian Government and participated in the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj.

PM Narendra Modi addressing the foreign delegates. Photo: pmindia

The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi addressing the gathering of the foreign delegates said that until one actually visits the Kumbh Mela, one cannot appreciate completely, what a great heritage it is. This tradition has continued uninterrupted for thousands of years. The effort is now to blend modernity and technology, with faith, spirituality, and cultural consciousness, at the Kumbh Mela. He said that the world will recognize India, both for its modernity, and for its rich heritage. He thanked the delegates from across the world, and said that their participation has also been an important part of the success of the Kumbh.

Kostantinos Kalaitzis singing Indian songs. Photo: Marylena Sapountzi

Greek singer and artist director of ELINEPA, Konstantinos Kalaitzis was among the invited delegates. He impressed the Indian organizers and the foreign delegates for his love to the Indian classical music. This was his 44th visit to India since 1986 and having traveled to all major Hindu pilgrimage sites including Kailash Mansarovar, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamnotri, Nanda Devi, this was his first chance to visit a Kumbh Mela.

“But Kumbh was a different feeling. I went into the Ganga and swam. I felt very good after that,” he said.

Cover photo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, joined the 188 delegates for a historic group photo.