UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | The Embassy of India in Seoul held a press briefing on August 31, 2026, at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre to announce details of the 12th edition of Sarang – The Festival of India in the Republic of Korea (ROK), alongside the 14th edition of the Indian Film Festival and updates on outcomes from the state visit of the President of the Republic of Korea to India earlier this year.

Sarang, the Embassy's flagship annual cultural event, has been held since 2015 in partnership with local Korean organizations to introduce audiences across the country to Indian art, music, dance, cinema and cuisine. Over the past decade, the festival has expanded steadily in scale and reach, becoming a recurring fixture in cultural exchange between the two countries. The name itself carries a dual meaning, translating to "love" in Korean and to "a medley of colours" in Hindi.

This year's edition will center on a tour by a visiting Odissi dance troupe led by artist Madhulita Mohapatra, running from September 15 to 22. Odissi, one of India's major classical dance traditions, originates in the eastern state of Odisha and draws on centuries of temple-rooted spiritual and artistic heritage. The form is known for its sculptural poses, rhythmic footwork, expressive hand gestures and facial expression, with repertoire frequently drawing on devotional themes tied to Lord Jagannath and the story of Radha and Krishna.

The tour will open with an inaugural performance at Samsung Hall, Ewha Womans University, in Seoul on September 15, in partnership with the Seodaemun-gu Office. The troupe will then travel to the ASEAN Culture House in Busan on September 16, in collaboration with the India Centre at Busan University of Foreign Studies; the Gimhae Arts and Sports Center on September 17, with Gimhae City Hall; and the Yoga Culture Town in Miryang on September 18. The itinerary continues to the National Asia Culture Center in Gwangju on September 19, followed by two performances at the Eco Stage on Nami Island on September 20 and 21, organized with Nami Island Arts and Education Inc. The tour will conclude on September 22 at Wonkwang Digital University's Seoul campus. In addition to performances, the troupe will conduct workshops for Korean dance enthusiasts during the tour.

The Embassy also detailed plans for the 14th edition of the Indian Film Festival, which will bring award-winning Indian films with Korean subtitles to audiences in multiple cities. Running under the theme "Against the Odds: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Courage," the festival will screen six films — Queen, Newton, Manjhi: The Mountain Man, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Sui Dhaaga and Sardar Udham — chosen for their portrayal of ordinary individuals confronting adversity with resilience.

Screenings will take place across six venues between November 3 and 29. The Korea Film Archive in Seoul will host the opening screenings from November 3 to 7, followed by the Ungsang Culture Sports Center in Yangsan, organized with the India Centre at Busan University of Foreign Studies, from November 6 to 8. The Asia Culture Center in Gwangju will screen films on November 13 to 15, while the Yoga Culture Town in Miryang will hold a single screening on November 14. The Mirim Theater in Incheon will host screenings from November 20 to 22, and the festival will close at the Busan Cinema Center from November 26 to 29.

The film festival is being organized in cooperation with several local partners, including the Korea Film Archive, the India Centre at Busan University of Foreign Studies, the Busan Cinema Center, the Mirim Theater in Incheon, and the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju.

During the briefing, the Indian Ambassador also thanked local partners and sponsors for their continued support in co-organizing Sarang and provided an update on outcomes from the state visit of the President of the Republic of Korea to India in April 2026, though further details of that visit were not elaborated upon in the briefing.