Kerala, a southern Indian state known for its vibrant cultural traditions and progressive public discourse, will host the Indian Cultural Congress, the country’s first-ever national cultural congress, from 20 to 22 December 2025 in Ernakulam.
Event Details
– Dates: 20–22 December 2025
– Location: Ernakulam, Kerala
– Venues: Spread across eight cultural spaces in the city
– Organizers: A collective of cultural institutions and organizations, supported by the Department of Culture, Government of Kerala
Inaugural Ceremony
– Chief Guest: Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala
– Presiding: Shri Saji Cherian, Minister for Culture, Government of Kerala
– Special Address: Shri P. Rajeev, Minister for Law, Industry and Commerce, Government of Kerala
– Notable Attendees:
– Filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan
– Poet Ashok Vajpeyi
– Writer-lyricist Suddala Ashok Teja
Performances & Exhibitions:
– Theatre, film screenings, visual art, lectures, workshops, and street performances
– Tribal, folk, ritualistic, and classical art forms from across India
Panel Discussions & Seminars:
– Literature, cinema, music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and people’s movements
– Focus on pluralism, multilingualism, fraternity, equality, and peace
Special Features:
– Platforms for transgender artists, linguistic minorities, and differently-abled performers
– Painting exhibition by Palestinian artists, highlighting global solidarity
Distinguished Participants
– Writers & Thinkers: Javed Akhtar, K. Satchidanandan, M. Mukundan, Rajathi Salma, G.N. Devy
– Cinema & Theatre: Saeed Mirza, Ratna Pathak Shah
– Music & Dance: Umayalpuram Sivaraman, Kalamandalam Gopi, Shantha Dhananjayan
– Journalism & Politics: Siddharth Varadarajan, Kanimozhi
– Valedictory Ceremony: Inaugurated by actor Mammootty, who will also be honored for his contributions to cinema and culture
Significance
– First-ever national cultural congress in India
– Aims to foreground India’s pluralistic and multilingual heritage
– Promotes dialogue, fraternity, and peace through cultural exchange
– Open to international participants with free registration for seminars and discussions via the Directorate of Culture, Government of Kerala website culturedirectorate.kerala.gov.in
This event is shaping up to be a landmark cultural gathering, bringing together voices from across India and beyond.