On June 12, New Delhi witnessed a grand reception on the Russian National Day.
More than 650 guests from the diplomatic corp, government agencies, think tanks, leading colleges, universities and media houses as well as Russian compatriots working in India joined the Embassy to celebrate the occasion. The Minister of State for External Affairs of India Mr M.J.Akbar graced the gathering as the Chief Guest and participated in the release ceremony of an illustrated coffee table book “Russia-India: the Anthology of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership” published by the Russian Embassy in New Delhi to mark the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries.
In his inaugural speech, the Chief Guest underlined the unique character of Russian-Indian special and privileged strategic partnership reflected in all spheres of bilateral cooperation. Charge d’Affaires of Russia in India Mr Anatoly Kargapolov and Honourable Minister of State Mr M.J.Akbar also awarded the winner of the “Jubilee Logo Design Contest – 2017” Mr Ajoy Kumar Biswas who was chosen by the Russian-Indian jury for the best emblem of the round anniversary of Russian-Indian diplomatic relations.
After the national anthems and the official part, the reception was continued with a concert by jazz and ragtime “Real Jam” band flown in from Moscow by the Government of Moscow and the JV “BrahMos Aerospace”. The guests hit the dance floor to the swing and boogie-woogie oldies and sang the famous Russian songs “Moscow Nights” and “Kalinka” all together. To express their love for Indian culture, the artists performed “Goron ki na kalon ki” and “Jimmy, Jimmy” songs in Hindi, which were received with a storm of applause.
When the dance party was over the guests took pictures and selfies to capture outdoor illumination of the Embassy premises that has become the talk of the town as best ever decoration of a diplomatic mission in New Delhi. Everyone presented at the celebration received a complimentary copy of the coffee table book “Russia-India: the Anthology of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership” at the end of the reception.