President Opens Bharatiya Kala Mahotsav’s Second Edition

24 Nov 2025 CW Team

Speaking at the inauguration, the President recalled that the first edition introduced audiences to the cultural richness of Northeast India. She said the current edition offers an opportunity to explore the folk traditions of Western India through handicrafts, dance, music, literature and cuisine. She expressed confidence that visitors would gain a meaningful glimpse into the artistic and cultural identity of these regions.

The President noted that the Government of India is taking several steps to reconnect people, especially the youth, with the country’s cultural heritage. She said festivals such as the Bharatiya Kala Mahotsav help citizens from different parts of the country understand one another, broadening perspectives and fostering respect for India’s shared cultural legacy. Such events, she added, inspire people to preserve and celebrate their heritage.

She also expressed confidence that the festival would attract large numbers of visitors and offer them a memorable cultural experience.

Dignitaries present at the event included Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma; Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat; Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy; Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde; Goa Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju; Telangana Minister for Panchayati Raj, Rural Development and Women and Child Welfare D. Anasuya Seethakka; and Gujarat Minister for Tribal Development, Khadi, Cottage and Rural Industries Naresh Maganbhai Patel.

The Bharatiya Kala Mahotsav will be open to the public from 22 to 30 November 2025, between 10 am and 8 pm. Entry is free.

President Droupadi Murmu today inaugurated the second edition of the Bharatiya Kala Mahotsav at Rashtrapati Nilayam, Secunderabad. The nine-day festival is being organised by Rashtrapati Nilayam in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of Tourism. This year’s edition highlights the diverse cultural heritage of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu. Speaking at the inauguration, the President recalled that the first edition introduced audiences to the cultural richness of Northeast India. She said the current edition offers an opportunity to explore the folk traditions of Western India through handicrafts, dance, music, literature and cuisine. She expressed confidence that visitors would gain a meaningful glimpse into the artistic and cultural identity of these regions. The President noted that the Government of India is taking several steps to reconnect people, especially the youth, with the country’s cultural heritage. She said festivals such as the Bharatiya Kala Mahotsav help citizens from different parts of the country understand one another, broadening perspectives and fostering respect for India’s shared cultural legacy. Such events, she added, inspire people to preserve and celebrate their heritage. She also expressed confidence that the festival would attract large numbers of visitors and offer them a memorable cultural experience. Dignitaries present at the event included Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma; Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat; Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy; Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde; Goa Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju; Telangana Minister for Panchayati Raj, Rural Development and Women and Child Welfare D. Anasuya Seethakka; and Gujarat Minister for Tribal Development, Khadi, Cottage and Rural Industries Naresh Maganbhai Patel. The Bharatiya Kala Mahotsav will be open to the public from 22 to 30 November 2025, between 10 am and 8 pm. Entry is free.

Infrastructure Transport

12 Jan 2026

Dhalbhumgarh Airport Faces 150-km Rule Hurdle

The issue has resurfaced following a recent statement by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, who said that under existing aviation policy, a new greenfield airport is generally not permitted within an aerial distance of 150 kilometres of an operational civilian airport. He added, however, that if a formal proposal is submitted, its impact on the existing airport can be examined and relaxations may be considered on a case-by-case basis. While the clarification has revived some hope for Dhalbhumgarh, it has also underlined the scale of the technical challenge facing the project. Unde..

Infrastructure Transport

12 Jan 2026

Stakeholders Seek Parallel Ops For Vizag Airports

With road and metro rail links to Bhogapuram still several years away, stakeholders in north Andhra Pradesh have renewed demands to continue civil operations at INS Dega even after the commissioning of Bhogapuram International Airport. The new airport is expected to begin commercial operations from June. Officials said close to 80 per cent of the airport infrastructure at Bhogapuram, including the terminal building and internal approach roads, has already been completed. However, inadequate external connectivity remains a key concern. Making a case for parallel operations, Andhra Pradesh Air ..

Infrastructure Transport

12 Jan 2026

Govt To Roll Out V2V Tech To Cut Road Crashes

In an effort to curb road accidents, particularly in low-visibility conditions such as dense fog, the government is set to roll out vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology that will allow cars to exchange real-time data and alert drivers to potential dangers. The announcement was made by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari after the 43rd meeting of the Transport Development Council. The technology involves installing an on-board unit (OBU) in vehicles, enabling wireless data exchange between nearby cars. This will allow vehicles to share information such as spee..