Dubai: ‘India by the Creek’ festival announced; free entry for all – News

The first-ever ‘India by the Creek’ festival, which offers free entry to all, is scheduled to take place at Dubai’s Al Seef Park from March 8 to 10. The event promises a lively celebration of the deep historical connections between India and the emirate of Dubai.

Presented by Dubai Duty Free in collaboration with the Consulate General of India, Dubai and Teamwork Arts, with support from Dubai Economy and Tourism and Khaleej Times, this event marks an important cultural milestone for both countries.

Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai, said: “Eight months ago, even before coming to Dubai, India by the Creek was a concept that was given to me when I was in the midst of my G20 duties. They told me about the vision of having a wonderful curated cultural event. Having known about Teamwork Arts and the kind of work they do… whether it was the Jaipur Literature Festival or ‘India by the Nile’ in Egypt, which were a huge success. Also, when I came to Dubai I realized that there is no shortage of India here.”

He emphasized that the UAE and India have a distinctive and exceptional relationship beyond mere trade and commercial interests.

He added: “The UAE and India share a very special relationship that transcends commercial and mercantile interests. Culture, diversity and tolerance anchor this bond. This festival celebrates that spirit. I am lucky to see the first edition made. This is just the beginning; many more such exchanges are on the horizon.”

What to expect?

For three days, Dubai Creek will feature a lively atmosphere where artists from India and the UAE will collaboratively showcase their creativity.

Among the distinguished figures and artists from India who will join the event are Purushottam Agarwal, academician and writer, acclaimed vocalist Malini Awasthi; the renowned musician Alif; Navdeep Suri, former diplomat, ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and writer; versatile singer Sonam Kalra; and the legendary band Indian Ocean, among others.

Performances from afternoon to night

Teamwork Arts leverages extensive experience for ‘India by the Creek’ event.

With a rich history spanning three decades, Teamwork Arts has curated more than 33 festivals in 72 cities and 26 countries, showcasing world-class talent in performing and visual arts, literature, scholarship, and social activism. JLF’s global presence now spans the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Maldives, Middle East and Europe.

Sanjoy K Roy, CEO of Teamwork Arts, said: “The festival aims to forge deeper connections between India and Dubai, becoming an annual highlight in the cultural calendar. Offering free entry to people of all ages, the event promises an engaging mix of activities, workshops and performances spanning from afternoon to evening.”

Ramesh Cidambi, chief operating officer of Dubai Duty Free, said: “Ravi (Menon) and I have spent hours over 12 years thinking about this concept, talking about the sensitivities and coming up with a working title for ‘India Talks’, which was the concept. initial. For Dubai Duty Free, India is the number one market. We are very excited to be the presenting sponsor of the first-ever India by the Creek festival, which promises to be a rich cultural collaboration that combines Indian and Emirati culture in a unique and vibrant environment. India accounts for 10 per cent of Dubai Duty Free’s business, which is significant; “So participating in this inaugural event is very important for a key customer base.”

Ravi Menon, representative of the festival’s local partner, reflected on the journey to make ‘India by the Creek’ a reality that has made this cultural spectacle possible.

Ravi Menon (left)

He said: “Now that it’s happening, I feel a certain sense of fulfillment. When you pursue a passion, it dominates you. That is. India Talks (as initially conceived) was supposed to essentially be a talk show to position India as a useful centerpiece for Indians and non-Indians alike. (The event) aims to capture the contradictions that is India. It was basically about giving an encapsulated version of India so that one would travel to India. The objective was to bring a microcosm of Indian complexity to a small event. There is a whole range of stories about India. It’s like watching the preview of a movie.”

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