KUALA LUMPUR: Young artists from India, Malaysia and Indonesia participated in the India–Malaysia International Cultural Festival 2026, organised by the Art & Aesthetics Foundation (TAAF), India, from 17 to 22 October.
The festival brought together more than 150 students and 50 teachers and principals from six schools for a programme featuring music, dance, visual art and experiential learning. A key event was a vocal masterclass led by New Delhi-based soprano and voice trainer Ms Chanshim Makunga at the Faculty of Creative Arts, University of Malaya, on 19 October.
An alumna of the Nagaland Conservatory of Music, Ms Makunga specialises in Western classical and contemporary voice and choral music. Her participation highlighted the contribution of musicians from India’s Northeast to international music education and cultural exchange.
The festival was inaugurated on 17 October at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Indian Cultural Centre (NSCBICC) in Kuala Lumpur. The ceremony was attended by India’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, His Excellency Shri Somnath Ghosh; Deputy High Commissioner Hitesh Rajpal; and other dignitaries, artists and cultural representatives.
The inaugural programme featured classical, folk and contemporary performances by young participants, who presented traditions from their respective countries. The performances demonstrated the role of the arts in promoting mutual understanding, cultural appreciation and international friendship.
Further performances and educational engagements took place at the University of Cyberjaya and the University of Malaya, followed by a cultural programme in Ipoh. Senior artists, gurus and other resource persons contributed to the programme through sessions that combined artistic practice with cross-cultural learning.
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Through performances, masterclasses and collaborative activities, the festival provided participants with opportunities to strengthen their skills, exchange ideas and build connections with peers from different countries. It also highlighted the importance of sustained partnerships among educational institutions, cultural organisations and artists in supporting meaningful international exchange.
By bringing together participants from three nations through the arts and education, the India–Malaysia International Cultural Festival 2026 reaffirmed the role of cultural exchange in connecting communities, inspiring young people and advancing global friendship.
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