19.10.2026 

Russian-Indian Festival "Ashram of Culture" at the International Roerich Memorial Trust

(IRMT, Naggar, Kullu, HP, India)

In October, a huge number of guests from India, Russia, and other countries arrive in the Himalayan Kullu Valley, at the memorial estate of the Roerich family. They are drawn by the vibrant events of the Roerich Culture Festival, which takes place annually at the IRMT.

This year, the Festival is dedicated to the keepers of the cultural heritage of Russia and India — great personalities who made a significant contribution to founding and developing cooperation between our countries, and to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between our peoples. The Roerichs occupy a special place among them. The Himalayan estate, where Nicholas Roerich and his family lived for about 20 years, became a true ashram of culture during their lifetime — a place of spiritual and creative achievements, a focus of communication and mutual understanding based on the aspiration for beauty, knowledge, and high ideals of the common good.

The Festival was organized by the International Roerich Memorial Trust in close collaboration with the International Center of the Roerichs (Moscow), with the support of the Kulu District Administration and the Russian Embassy in India, as well as the Rossotrudnichestvo Representative Office in India, the E.I. Roerich Charitable Foundation (Moscow), and the Committee for the Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace (Moscow).

It is a pleasure to note that the honored guests of the October festival this year included His Excellency Denis Alipov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to India, with his spouse; Mrs. Yulia Aryaeva, Counselor of the Russian Embassy in India and Head of the Culture Group; Mr. Gunjeet Singh Cheema, Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Manali (Himachal Pradesh); Mrs. Natalia Cherkashina, Vice President of the International Centre of the Roerichs (ICR) and Director of the Non-Governmental Museum named after Nicholas Roerich (Moscow); Mr. Ashok Thakur, Life Trustee of the IRMT; Mrs. Elena Barman, President of the All-India Association of Russian Compatriots in India, representatives of the Panchayat of Naggar and other esteemed guests.

By tradition, a group of volunteers, or public assistants of the International Centre of the Roerichs, took an active part in preparing and hosting the Festival. ICR volunteers from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus, led by Mrs. Tamara Merges and Mr. Vasily Tkachev, have been coming to the Roerich Trust since 2017. Over these years, the warmest friendly relations have developed between the Indian staff of the Trust and the guests from the ICR. Along with providing all kinds of assistance, the volunteers organize the International Festival of Children and Youth Creativity "The Roerichs’ Realm" of the International Centre of the Roerichs at the IRMT, with the children and youth of the Kullu Valley being its direct participants.

In this short article, we will present only a preliminary brief overview of the main events of the "Ashram of Culture" Festival at the Roerich Estate.

• The Festival began on October 6 in the classrooms of the Helena Roerich Academy of Arts (IRMT), which hosted the opening of the exhibition of paintings by Russian and Indian children titled "The Roerich Family – a Bridge of Culture and Friendship Between Nations." The exhibition featured the winners and participants of the "Roerichs’ Realm" Festival. The exhibition was organized by the Festival organizing committee and the ICR volunteer group (Moscow).
• On the same day, the regional stage of the children's painting and essay competition within "The Roerich Realm" Festival was held. The theme was "The Roerich Estate – an Ashram of Culture in the Himalayas." It brought together students from the Helena Roerich Academy of Arts, schools across the Kullu Valley, and the Greenfield School from Kangra. Teachers of the Helena Roerich Academy of Arts, led by music teacher Anshul Kumar, and ICR volunteers actively participated in organizing the competition.
• Following the competition, the ICR volunteers organized master classes and games popular in Russia for the young artists and writers of the Kullu Valley.
• October 9, the birthday of Nicholas Roerich, traditionally began with a prayer ceremony — Shanti Puja, a sacred Hindu ritual held annually at the Samadhi site (the cremation site) of the great Russian Maharishi — artist, thinker, scientist, and a great friend of India.
• After the Shanti Puja, a solemn ceremony was held to hoist the national flags of Russia and India, alongside the Banner of Peace — the Banner of Culture, raised over the Earth by Nicholas Roerich in 1935.
• Accompanied by the sacred words of prayer, flower garlands were placed on the bronze busts of Nicholas and Helena Roerich, which have been welcoming all guests and visitors of the Roerich Estate under the ancient deodar tree since 2019.
• The opening ceremony of the drawing and painting exhibition "Dedication to Roerich" by students of the Greenfield Senior Secondary School of Kangra District (HP, India) took place in the IRMT Exhibition Hall.
• The exhibition of paintings and arts and crafts "The Altai Sun" by artisans from the Uymon Valley (Republic of Altai, Russia) was solemnly opened in the IRMT Conference Hall. It was curated by Mrs. Marina Sergeeva, a master of decorative and applied arts and a member of the "Diveevo Toy" Association (Ust-Koksa, Ust-Koksinsky District, Altai). A special display case at the exhibition was dedicated to the collection of Gzhel and Khokhloma art, which was donated to the Roerich Trust by the Ural Center for Spiritual Culture (Yekaterinburg).
• A fair featuring souvenirs, toys, postcards, and Russian treats was held at the IRMT Green Theatre venue. It featured the Naggar Women's Creative Association led by Ms. Kushum Thakur, artist Mrs. Mira Kudryashova (Naggar), and ICR volunteers under the leadership of Russian artist Mrs. Elena Yakovleva.
• A solemn lamp-lighting ceremony and the presentation of traditional Kullu Valley gifts to the honored guests took place on the stage of the IRMT Green Theatre. The gathering was welcomed by the Indian and Russian curators of the IRMT, Mr. Suresh Kumar and Mrs. Larisa Surgina. Speeches dedicated to the main event of the day — the 152nd birth anniversary of Nicholas Roerich — as well as the past, present, and future of the Roerich Estate as an invaluable "Ashram of Culture" and a center of Russian-Indian friendship were delivered by Mr. Denis Alipov, Ambassador of Russia to India; Mr. Amit Paul, Assistant to the former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh; and Mrs. Natalia Cherkashina, Vice President of the ICR (Moscow).
• A solemn award ceremony was held for the children who won the regional and international stages of "The Roerich Realm" Festival in the "Fine Arts" category. Certificates and prizes were presented to the winners by Mrs. Yulia Aryaeva, Counselor of the Russian Embassy in India; Mrs. Natalia Cherkashina, Vice President of the ICR; and Nadezhda Kobzistova, member of the Festival organizing committee, with the participation of the Russian and Indian curators of the IRMT, volunteers, and Academy teachers.
• A musical program became a bright gift for the audience. It featured teachers and students of the Helena Roerich Academy of Arts, guests from Russia and Kazakhstan (ICR volunteers), as well as musicians and dancers who were delegates to the XIV All-India Conference of Russian Compatriots in India, who arrived at the Roerich Estate from various cities across India.On the same festive day, October 9, the XIV All-India Conference of Russian Compatriots was held in the IRMT Conference Hall. Russian Ambassador to India Mr. Denis Alipov took part in the opening of the Conference. Mrs. Larisa Surgina, the Russian curator of the IRMT, spoke about the activities of the Trust and prospects for cooperation.
• On October 10, L.V.Surgina conducted a tour of the Roerich Estate for the Conference delegates. In the afternoon, a painting master class dedicated to the Roerich family was held under the guidance of Olga Levchenko, a member of the Creative Union of Artists of Russia and the International Association of Artists.
• On October 11, the IRMT hosted the International Public and Scientific Conference titled "Russia – India: Great Names in the History of Spiritual and Cultural Dialogue." Prominent and young Indian and Russian researchers delivered presentations dedicated to N.K.Roerich, G.S.Lebedev, L.V.Shaposhnikova, and other outstanding cultural figures who created and strengthened the bonds of friendship between Russia and India. We will cover the Conference participants and their presentations in more detail in a separate article.
• From October 15 to 17, members of the volunteer group — Russian artists Elena Yakovleva (Moscow), Ilmira Faridonova (Ufa), Nadezhda Kobzistova (Ekaterinburg), and Anna Smolina (Moscow) — participated in the Indo-Russian art workshop "Rangotsava II". The event was organized by DAV University of Jalandhar (Punjab, India), the "Kalakar Sangh Punjab" art association, and the International Roerich Memorial Trust.

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Dear friends! The festival of Russian-Indian friendship at the IRMT continues! We invite you to take part in the festive program dedicated to the 122nd birth anniversary of Svetoslav Roerich, which will take place at the memorial Roerich Estate on October 23, 2026. We are waiting for you!