Vasant Mela - a celebration of colors is held on March 11, 2023 in Indian Embassy in China. Photo: Courtesy of Embassy of India in China

The Indian Embassy in China, on February 24, announced the return of "Vasant Mela" - a celebration of colors, will be held on March 23 this year. 

The embassy made the announcement on several social media platforms with signing up information.

This event was first organized at the old chancery premises on March 11, 2023 and attended by over 3,000 people. The festival featured stalls selling Indian handicrafts, diverse culinary offerings, and activities for children and adults, alongside a day-long cultural extravaganza. Ambassador Pradeep Rawat highlighted the festival as an expression of friendship and love, featuring a grand amalgamation of four styles of classical dance: Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, and Kathak. The performances included a mix of classical and fusion music, Western and Indian dances, yoga demonstrations, interactive quizzes, audience challenge segments, and concluded with a flash mob.

In addition to Vasant Mela, the embassy has celebrated other significant events in the past, such as the Tagore-Nazrul Jayanti on June 11, 2022, at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre. This event commemorates the birthdays of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam, two iconic figures in Indian and Bengali literature and music. These events demonstrate the Indian Embassy's commitment to promoting Indian culture and fostering bilateral cultural exchanges between India and China.