34th Annual Pt. Radhakrishna–Pt. Kartaram Mallick National Dhrupad Samaroh
An evening celebrating the rich traditions of Dhrupad through instrumental, vocal and dance performances.
Pakhawaj Duet
Gaurav Upadhyay (Gaya Gharana) and Devashish Pathak (Darbhanga Gharana)
Surbahar Recital
Ashwini Dalvi
Pakhawaj accompaniment: Harish Chandrapati
Dhrupad Vocal Recital – Darbhanga Gharana
Uday Kumar Mallick
Pakhawaj: Gaurav Upadhyay
Tanpura: Kamini Agnihotri and Rishikesh Mallick
Bharatanatyam Dance Performance
Sindhu Mishra & Group
(Collaboration: Dhrupad Academy, Delhi)
 

KAMALADEVI PURUSKAR 2025
Presentation of Awards to young crafts persons

Chief Guest: K. T. Ravindran, an architect, urban designer and academician

Awards will be presented to Rajinder Kaur from Punjab practising the craft of Phulkari Embroidery; G. Gunasai from Andhra Pradesh for Weaving of Venkatgiri Jamdani; Pallabi Samat from West Bengal practising the craft of Bamboo Basket Weaving; Bhoomika S. H from Karnataka practising the craft of Kora Grass Mat Weaving; Uma Joshi from Uttarakhand for Traditional Kumaoni Aipan Art.

(Collaboration: Delhi Crafts Council)
 

Paswaar (Caress Me)
(2025; 39 mins.; Gujarati/Hindi with English subtitles)
Director: Shayar Gandhi
Producer: Kinjal Gajera
With Arvind Vaidya, Mamta Bhavsar

Official Selection at the Tasveer Film Festival and the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026
A poignant yet hopeful story about Dr Homi, an elderly, wealthy and childless Zoroastrian, and Lali, his devoted caregiver and cook. As Homi considers whether to leave his inheritance to his estranged nephew Jamshed or to Lali, the film explores an unlikely bond shaped by loneliness, affection, belonging and the human need for care.
The director will be present for the post screening discussion
 

IIC/MEDIA DIALOGUES 
The Role of Cartoons in the Media

Moderator: R. Srinivasan, Senior Journalist

Discussants: Sandeep Adhwaryu, Chief Cartoonist, The Times of India; Manjul, Cartoonist, EP Unny, Chief Political Cartoonist, The Indian Express; Samim Akter Sheikh, Independent Political Cartoonist.

(Collaboration: The Media Foundation)
 

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

Not so Randomly yours
By Vivek Atray (Ferntree Publishing, 2026)

Chair: K. P. Fabian, Distinguished Fellow, School of Law, Symbiosis University

Discussants: Charu Bali, IPS Officer; Neelesh Kulkarni, Author, Poet, Entrepreneur; Vivek Atray, Author of the book
 

Ek Noor Te Sab Jag Upjaya kaun bhale kaun mande (All beings have emanated from the same divine light and therefore no one is good or bad)
By young performers from Punjab, vocals: Punjabi, Braj and Farsi with instruments; Dilruba, Ukelele and Didgerido from Austrailia
Curation & Direction: Aaradhana Kohli Kapur 
A cultural presentation commemorating the 557th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, celebrating his teachings of universal brotherhood, equality and inclusivity, deeply rooted in the Bhakti and Sufi traditions. 
(Collaboration: Enable India Foundation and Project- Recentring Ahimsa)

INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 

Comparative analysis of Women and Child Burials from Harappan sites of North-Western region of India
Speaker: Dr. Satarupa Bal, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), New Delhi.

Chair: K.N. Shrivastava, Director, IIC

Moderator: Pratap Bhanu Singh Sengar, former Director (Monuments) Archaeological Survey of India

The talk examines the burial practices of women and children across Harappan sites, including Rakhigarhi, Farmana and Kalibangan. Drawing on archaeological evidence, skeletal remains and grave goods, it explores gender roles, social status, kinship structures and early life conditions. 
 

Echoes from the Himalayas
Speakers: Rashmi Bharti, Co-founder of Avani and recipient of Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development and Rajnish Jain, Co-founder of Avani and Livelihood Innovation Fellow, Royal Academy of Engineering.

Introduction and Chair: Laila Tyabji, craft activist and Founder Member, DASTKAR

The talk will trace Avani’s work in the Kumaon Himalayas and the founders’ vision for bringing together traditional craft, community-based livelihoods, sustainability and renewable energy.

An exhibition at the Quadrangle Gardens on 19 and 20 November 2026 will trace Avani’s journey through curated panels and displays of its crafts.
 

IIC DOUBLE BILL: DANCE RECITALS

Mohiniyattyam Recital 
By Aparna Sajeev from Delhi, disciple of Guru Jayaprabha Menon

At 19:00 
Bharatanatyam Recital
By Anuradha Mathur from Bangalore, disciple of Guru   P. Praveen Kumar

Concerning the Spiritual
An Exhibition of Photographs by Briana Blasko
Curated by Bhooma Padmanabhan
An exhibition exploring the relationship between art, faith and spirituality through photographs by Briana Blasko. The exhibition reflects on moments of stillness, contemplation and human connection, offering a personal exploration of India's diverse spiritual traditions.

The exhibition will be inaugurated at 18:00 hrs on Wednesday, 18 November 2026

The exhibition will remain open daily from 11:00 to 19:00 hrs