New Delhi, Sep 21: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts today hosted a press conference to announce the 7th edition of Nadi Utsav, scheduled to be held from September 24 to 26, 2026, with this year’s festival dedicated to the Yamuna and its deep cultural, historical, ecological and civilisational significance.
The three-day festival will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri Taranjit Singh Sandhu, with Swami Avadheshanand Giri Ji and Smt. Shovana Narayan as Guests of Honour.
Addressing the press conference, Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA, provided an overview of the festival and highlighted its vision of looking at rivers beyond their physical and ecological dimensions as living repositories of memory, culture, traditions and collective experiences.
“A river is not merely a geographical entity or a source of water; it is a living repository of our civilisational memory. The Yamuna has been an integral part of our cultural imagination, traditions, art, literature and collective consciousness for centuries. Through Nadi Utsav, we seek to bring these multiple dimensions of the river into public discourse and create a deeper understanding of our relationship with rivers as living cultural landscapes. The festival is an endeavour to reconnect people with the cultural and civilisational significance of the Yamuna and to renew our collective conversation around preserving both its ecological and cultural heritage.” Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA
The three-day festival will feature seminars, lecture series, exhibitions, workshops, a film festival and performances, bringing together experts, academics, artists, cultural practitioners and participants from across the country to explore the many dimensions of the Yamuna.
As part of the Film Festival, 17 selected films will be screened, including some films being screened for the first time. Over the years, Nadi Utsav has also provided valuable support and a platform to amateur and emerging filmmakers, helping bring their perspectives and creative work on rivers to a wider audience.
A painting workshop will also be held at Vasudev Ghat on September 24 at 7 AM, offering participants an opportunity to engage with the Yamuna through art and creative expression.
This edition will particularly focus on the Yamuna’s role in shaping the cultural and historical landscape of the region. From traditions and artistic expressions to stories, memories and community practices, the festival will explore how the river has inspired and influenced generations. The festival will also facilitate conversations around the interconnectedness of rivers, ecology and culture, encouraging a deeper understanding of rivers as living cultural landscapes rather than merely geographical entities.
Prof. K. Anil Kumar, Head of the Department, Janapada Sampada, IGNCA; Shri Abhay Mishra, Convenor, Nadi Utsav; and Shri Anurag Punetha, Controller, Media Centre, IGNCA, were also present at the press conference and shared details of the festival’s programme and engagements.
Over the three days, Nadi Utsav will offer audiences an opportunity to experience the Yamuna through multiple cultural forms while reflecting on its enduring significance to the people, traditions and collective memory of the region.
Through Nadi Utsav, IGNCA seeks to renew conversations around India’s rivers and their profound relationship with the country’s civilisational heritage, while highlighting the need to understand and preserve their ecological and cultural dimensions.
The 7th Nadi Utsav, themed ‘Iss Baar Yamuna’, will be held from September 24 to 26, 2026, in New Delhi.