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A festival ‘Days of Indian culture in Vladivostok’ started on Friday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of India and Russia’s establishing of diplomatic relations, a press statement from the Center for Indian Culture of the Far Eastern National University reported.

The festival which is organized by the center together with India’s Consulate General in Vladivostok will last until April 22.

The event includes the showcasing of seven Indian films in three of the city’s cinema halls as well as a photo exhibition called ‘Never ending India’ to be opening on Sunday. It is aimed to reveal India’s people, traditions and architecture.

Within the program, the Indian Naval Symphonic Orchestra will give a performance for Vladivostok residents and guests in the city’s central square on April 21 and 22.

The festival has also scheduled competitions among Vladivostok school and university students for the best essay devoted to India, the statement said.

The program will finish with a large concert in the city’s Gorky Theater, with performances by the Indian dance group ‘Dosti’ and the Indian Naval Symphonic Orchestra, as well as musical and dance performers from Vladivostok, Khabarovsk and Nakhodka.

The opening of a new Indian cuisine restaurant in downtown Vladivostok will become a pleasant addition to the festival program, local news reports said.

Besides this on April 20 a five-ship squadron of the Indian Naval Fleet will arrive in Vladivostok, the first visit paid by Indian Naval ships to the Far Eastern port.

The ships will participate in joint drills with Pacific Fleet vessels and will exercise anti-diversion techniques under simulated conditions which require diving and grenade launching. On April 24, the vessels will train to combat poachers and terrorist assaults, with the bulk of the drills held in the Peter the Great Bay, a press statement from the Pacific Fleet reported.

During their stay in the port of Vladivostok, the Indian sailors will see the city’s historic sights and will visit vessels of the Pacific Fleet and the Pacific Naval Institute, the statement said.