AIKYAM marks United Nations’ 80 anniversary with a three-day cultural festival at Ajanta-Ellora

Senior officials from UNESCO, Maharashtra Tourism and the Municipal Corporation of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar were present, along with ambassadors and high commissioners from France, China, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

AIKYAM, Sopaan’s annual cultural initiative, concluded its three-day edition (November 21–23) at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora, bringing together artists, diplomats and scholars from more than 30 countries. (Source: Special Arrangement)

AIKYAM, Sopaan’s annual cultural initiative, concluded its three-day edition (November 21-23) at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora, bringing together artists, diplomats and scholars from more than 30 countries. Held to mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the festival combined heritage, performance and dialogue against the backdrop of Maharashtra’s most celebrated archaeological sites.

The event opened at the monolithic Kailasa Temple, Ellora, with a Shiva invocation by HH Maharani Raseshwari Rajya Laxmi of Jaisalmer and Nick Booker, followed by AIKYAM Omkara, a multi-discipline performance choreographed by Gauri Sharma Tripathi and featuring international dancers trained in Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Odissi. The intellectual core of the festival included a keynote lecture by historian William Dalrymple on India’s ancient global exchanges, and talks by experts including Dr Timothy Curtis, Director of UNESCO’s Regional Office in India.

Senior officials from UNESCO, Maharashtra Tourism and the Municipal Corporation of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar were present, along with ambassadors and high commissioners from France, China, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Speaking at the event, Sanjay Khandare, Principal Secretary, Maharashtra Tourism, said the state remains at the forefront of India’s tourism landscape with “the Ajanta and Ellora caves serving as living expressions of our civilisational depth and artistic brilliance”. He also shared that Maharashtra recorded India’s highest foreign tourist inflow in 2024, with 3.71 million international visitors.

Dr Timothy Curtis added that Ajanta and Ellora, which are among the earliest Indian sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, stand as “dynamic repositories of philosophy, creativity and shared human endeavour”. “Their legacy, rooted in artistic excellence, scientific prowess and in the coexistence of diverse traditions, reminds us of what humanity can achieve together. In a rapidly changing world, these sites call on us to renew our commitment to dialogue, cooperation and collective action,” he added.

A highlight of the programme was the musical recreation of the 1967 UN General Assembly concert by Pandit Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menuhin, performed by sitarist Pandit Shubhendra Rao and cellist Saskia Rao-de Haas. Brazilian artist Sergio Cordeiro created a live mural reinterpreting Ajanta’s painting traditions. Curated heritage walks through Daulatabad Fort, Bibi ka Maqbara and the Ajanta caves, along with showcases on Paithani and Himroo textiles and regional cuisine, formed part of the visitor experience.

Founded by Ambassador Monika Kapil Mohta and Siddhaant Mohta, Sopaan works with state governments and cultural institutions to design cultural programmes at historic sites across India.

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Cultural tourism is emerging as a key economic driver, with India’s heritage tourism market — valued at USD 19.9 billion in 2024 — projected to cross USD 27 billion by 2033. Against this backdrop, AIKYAM’s organisers described the platform as an attempt to reimagine how heritage spaces can host contemporary cultural exchange while aligning with the UN’s sustainability goals and strengthening India’s soft power footprint.

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