Speech by Ambassador Y. K. Sailas Thangal at the Global Music Festival

(Astana, 21 June, 2026) 

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished Ambassadors, Esteemed Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Evening, Al Salam Alaikum, Salametsiz be and Vanakum.

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome all of you to this very special evening at the Astana Philharmonic as we inaugurate the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival in Kazakhstan.

This festival is a celebration of music, friendship, and the enduring cultural bonds between India and Kazakhstan. Organized by the Embassy of India in partnership with the Astana Philharmonic and the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, these concerts had travelled to four beautiful cities of Kazakhstan—Aktobe on 16, Kostanay on 18, Kokshetau on 20, and Astana today the 21 June 2026—bringing together diverse musical traditions and audiences through the universal language of music.

Music transcends borders, languages, and cultures. It speaks directly to the human heart and reminds us of our shared humanity. Through Indian classical music, contemporary compositions, and fusion performances, this festival seeks to deepen the people-to-people connections that form the foundation of the strong and growing partnership between India and Kazakhstan.

This year's festival is particularly significant as it is being organized in conjunction with the celebrations of the 12th International Day of Yoga 2026. Earlier today, hundreds of yoga enthusiasts gathered at the Astana Arena for the International Day of Yoga-2026 event organized with the generous support of the Astana Akimat. Yoga and music are both powerful expressions of harmony, balance, and unity. It is therefore most fitting that we conclude this memorable day with an evening dedicated to music and cultural exchange.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

India and Kazakhstan share a relationship built on mutual respect, trust, and friendship. Cultural exchanges such as these bring our peoples even closer together and create lasting memories and deeper understanding between our nations.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Dr. L. Subramaniam, the visionary founder of the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, whose extraordinary commitment to promoting music as a bridge between cultures has inspired audiences across the world. His dedication to artistic excellence and international cultural dialogue has made this festival one of the most respected musical platforms globally.

I would also like to extend a very warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Kavita Krishnamurti, fondly known as the "Melody Queen of Bollywood." Her remarkable voice has captivated millions of music lovers across generations and continents. We are truly honoured by her presence in Kazakhstan, and I am certain that she will enthral and enchant the audience tonight with her unforgettable melodious performance.

My special thanks also go to Maestro Abzal Mukhitdin for his relentless support, invaluable cooperation, and personal commitment in making these concerts possible across all four cities. His dedication and partnership have been instrumental in transforming this vision into reality.

I would further like to acknowledge the efforts of the Astana Philharmonic, the Astana Akimat, our partners, sponsors, artists, technicians, volunteers, all my staff in the embassy and everyone whose hard work has contributed to the success of this festival.

As we embark on this musical journey together, let us celebrate the richness of our cultures, the beauty of artistic collaboration, and the friendship between India and Kazakhstan. I wish the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival every success and many more years of inspiring audiences around the world.

Thank you all for joining us this evening.

Please sit back, relax, and enjoy this wonderful night of music.

Thank you, Khop Rakhmet! Dhanyavaad

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