Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently in Rio de Janeiro for the two-day BRICS Summit, is set to travel to Brasília later on Monday for a bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the leaders will hold wide-ranging talks aimed at broadening the Strategic Partnership between the two countries in key sectors, including trade, defence, energy, space, technology, agriculture and health.
Beyond strategic and economic engagement, cultural connections between India and Brazil have steadily gained ground over the years, creating bridges of understanding rooted in shared appreciation of art, philosophy and wellness.
A cultural dialogue through dance, philosophy and yoga
Indian classical dance forms, including Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kathak and Kuchipudi, have found an enthusiastic audience in Brazil. According to an official statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, “Folkloric identities and celebrations from India relate deeply to the colourful and festive nature of Brazilian culture.”
Yoga and Ayurveda have also become powerful pillars of cultural exchange. Several Indian spiritual organisations- including the Ramakrishna Mission, ISKCON, Satya Sai Baba centres and Bhakti Vedanta Foundation- have established chapters in Brazil. The Brazilian Association of Ayurveda (ABRA) today operates across nine states, reflecting the growing interest in holistic wellness practices.
A government official noted, “Brazil has a strong community of Yoga and Ayurveda practitioners. Events such as the International Congress on Ayurveda, held in Goias in 2013 and in Rio de Janeiro in 2018, drew thousands of delegates, highlighting the increasing resonance of traditional Indian wellness systems.”
The Embassy has also organised literary evenings under the banner ‘Chá com Letras’, inviting Brazilian poets to share their work, as well as regular screenings of Indian films, which continue to draw keen audiences.
Cinema, cuisine and cultural festivals
Indian cinema enjoys strong popularity in Brazil, buoyed by Indian Film Weeks and special festivals. The Brazilian TV serial ‘Caminhos das India’ (Paths of India), inspired by Indian society, remains widely watched. In May 2014, the Brazilian Post issued a commemorative stamp marking ‘100 Years of Indian Cinema’.
Food too has served as a cultural bridge. The Embassy’s ‘Food Week of India’, organised in 2015 in Brasília, showcased India’s culinary diversity and was well received by locals and the diplomatic community alike.
In 2017, to mark 70 years of India’s independence, a ten-day Festival of India was organised in Brasília, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The festival featured an exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi’s life, classical Carnatic music performances, Kathak recitals and literary exchanges with Brazilian poets.
Gandhi’s message and educational cooperation
Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of non-violence continue to resonate in Brazil, with statues erected in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Londrina. In Salvador, the organisation ‘Filhos de Gandhi’ (Sons of Gandhi) holds annual street processions in Gandhian attire to spread his message.
On the education front, the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme remains popular. “Over the past seven years, more than 55 Brazilians have attended training courses in communications, management and defence in India,” a government spokesperson said, adding that enrolments are steadily rising.
Indian Community in Brazil
The Indian community in Brazil is estimated to be around 4,000 people, with majority of them living in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Manaus. The community comprises primarily of professionals and businessmen, with some scientists/researchers also working in the fields of space, agriculture, physics and biotechnology. There is an Indian Association in Sao Paulo, which organizes events to celebrate national days and community festivals.
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