The first BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival was organised at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on Monday.

"This first large scale cultural event of BIMSTEC was in fulfilment of the announcement made by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, reaffirming India's commitment to deepen people-to-people contacts in the Bay of Bengal Region," the Indian government said in a statement.

The Festival served as a vibrant platform to promote and celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the BIMSTEC region.

The event brought together musicians from all the BIMSTEC countries - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Srilanka and Thailand - showcasing traditional music, instrumental and folk expressions, reflecting the soul of South and Southeast Asia and the ancient linkages that bind the countries of the region.

The event, inaugurated by the External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, highlighted the importance of cultural exchange as a cornerstone of regional cooperation and emphasized the role of culture and tradition, as key markers of identity, in fostering mutual respect, dialogue and unity.