Asean artistes in big roles as Ramayana helps build bonds with the 10-nation bloc

NEW DELHI: The epic Ramayana has emerged as a key soft power tool in the Union government’s Act East Policy, as India hosts an Asean Summit with the leaders of all 10 nations in the Southeast Asian bloc in attendance.

Artistes from the 10 nations — Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Laos — were in India on an invitation by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to be part of a Ramayana Festival organised by it. The festival started with a performance at the Kamani auditorium in Delhi on Saturday and travelled to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Lucknow before concluding in Ayodhya on Wednesday.

“Delighted to know that the Ramayana Festival, with participation of all 10 Asean countries, begins in Delhi today. This celebrates India’s deep civilizational and historical relations with the Asean region,” PM Narendra Modi tweeted on Saturday.


Modi will host the Southeast Asian leaders here on Thursday for the Asean-India Summit to commemorate 25 years of New Delhi’s partnership with the bloc. The Asean leaders will also attend the Republic Day ceremony as chief guests.

The epic Ramayana is seen as a shared heritage of the eastern world and the saga is a popular theme for theatre presentation in Asean countries.

Delhi is of the view that Ramayana, along with Buddhism, provides a strong cultural bond between India and all the Asean countries.

“An important part of a series of events to commemorate 25 years of India-Asean relations, the festival is a fitting prelude to the Asean-India Commemorative Summit on January 25,” Modi tweeted.

Modi was particularly impressed by the Ramayana performance at the beginning of the East Asia Summit in Manila last November.