Context
India recently hosted the first-ever BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival on August 4, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the event is titled "SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody", symbolizing musical harmony among the seven BIMSTEC countries.
Significance of the Festival
This festival showcases India's soft power and cultural diplomacy, aligning with Neighbourhood First and Act East Policies.
The event seeks to foster regional identity and shared heritage, using traditional music as a common cultural thread across BIMSTEC nations.
This is the inaugural edition, and it was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand (April 2025). Hosting this event underlines India's leadership role in regional cultural integration.
Promotes people-to-people ties, an essential aspect of Track II diplomacy. Encourages tourism, academic exchange, and cross-border artistic collaborations.
About BIMSTEC:
BIMSTEC stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, a regional organization formed in 1997. It serves as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia, aiming to foster cooperation across sectors like trade, technology, energy, transport, and culture.
Organizational Structure
· Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh
· Secretariat Established: 2014
· Leadership: Chairmanship rotates among member countries
· Working Mechanism: Operates through 14 priority sectors each led by a member country (e.g., India leads Security and Counter-Terrorism)
Member Countries
BIMSTEC comprises 7 member states, all of which are located around the Bay of Bengal:
· Bangladesh
· Bhutan
· India
· Myanmar
· Nepal
· Sri Lanka
· Thailand
BIMSTEC Charter (2022)
- Adopted at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit hosted by Sri Lanka in 2022
- Provides BIMSTEC a formal legal identity
- Institutionalizes decision-making processes
- Encourages deeper integration and functional cooperation
Recent Developments
- 6th BIMSTEC Summit: Held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2025
- PM Narendra Modi participated
- Focus on connectivity, disaster response, and regional security
Importance of BIMSTEC:
BIMSTEC is a key regional organization that brings together countries from South and Southeast Asia around the Bay of Bengal. It is important for India’s neighborhood diplomacy, Act East Policy, and Indo-Pacific strategy
SAARC has largely become dysfunctional due to persistent political tensions, especially between India and Pakistan. BIMSTEC, in contrast, excludes Pakistan, allowing smoother regional cooperation. It has emerged as a credible alternative to SAARC for:
· Promoting economic integration
· Enhancing security cooperation
· Facilitating regional connectivity
Conclusion
The BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival is more than a cultural event—it is a powerful symbol of regional cooperation, shared heritage, and India’s leadership in soft diplomacy. By celebrating traditional music, ‘SaptaSur’ helps stitch together the cultural fabric of South and Southeast Asia, resonating with the spirit of unity in diversity. For India, this event marks a strategic milestone in cultural diplomacy, reinforcing its commitment to a harmonious, interconnected Bay of Bengal region.
