The Bharat Utsav (Days of Indian Culture) festival officially launched on May 10, 2026, at Victory Square (Ploshchad Pobedi) in Elista, the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia. This multi-day event (May 10–12) celebrates Indian-Kalmyk cultural ties, featuring dance, films, music, yoga masterclasses, and a sand sculpture exhibition. It highlights the deep Buddhist connections between the two regions, as Kalmykia is Europe's only Buddhist-majority republic with strong historical and spiritual links to India.
The opening ceremony included high-profile guests: Head of the Republic of Kalmykia Batu Khasikov, ICCR Director General K. Nandini Singla, Shajin Lama of Kalmykia Geshe Tenzin Choydak, and Indian filmmakers. A sand sculpture by artists from Odisha was unveiled, and the Indian Film Festival began at the October Cinema with screenings including "Humans in the Loop" (directed by Aranya Sahay).
Attendees enjoyed performances and noted cultural similarities between Kalmyk steppes and Indian landscapes. The event builds on prior initiatives like the 2025 International Buddhist Forum in Elista and plans for reciprocal Kalmyk culture days in India. It underscores ongoing India-Russia people-to-people ties, especially in Buddhism.