The Embassy of India in Riyadh is organising the third edition of Pravasi Parichay, a comprehensive cultural festival showcasing India’s diverse heritage, from today ( October 28)  to November 3, 2025, at the embassy’s auditorium.

 

 

The week-long celebration, which has become a signature initiative since its inception in 2023, brings together the Indian diaspora community in Saudi Arabia for an extensive display of classical dance, music, folk art, and culinary traditions.

 

 

Pravasi Parichay, launched as the first festival of its kind by the Embassy of India in partnership with Indian diaspora associations in Saudi Arabia, has grown significantly in scope and participation over its three-year history.

 

 

The inaugural editions in 2023 and 2024 attracted thousands of Indian community members and received widespread appreciation for their comprehensive representation of India’s cultural richness.

 

 

Each edition has featured distinctive special programs that reflect different aspects of Indian heritage. The 2023 festival included a unique program conducted entirely in Sanskrit, which received special mention from the Prime Minister during his Mann Ki Baat address in November of that year. The 2024 edition celebrated India’s linguistic diversity by highlighting all eleven classical languages recognised in the country.

 

 

This year’s festival will feature a special evening dedicated to Gita Mahotsav alongside the traditional thematic days representing various Indian states. Responding to growing demand from the Indian community, the embassy has expanded the number of state-dedicated days from three to four in this edition.

 

 

The embassy has adopted a partnership model with Indian diaspora organisations to manage the festival’s scale, appropriate given the substantial Indian population of 2.74 million residing in Saudi Arabia. This approach brings together diverse social, cultural, and educational groups within the Indian community, along with dedicated volunteers who coordinate to present exceptional cultural and artistic performances. The collaborative model has fostered a strong sense of community ownership over the festival.

 

 

Beyond entertainment, Pravasi Parichay serves multiple diplomatic and community-building objectives. The festival strengthens the embassy’s ties with the diaspora community while providing a vibrant platform for community members to showcase their artistic talents and celebrate Indian cultural traditions with friends and family. The initiative has generated considerable goodwill within the diaspora population.