Cultural Relations

An 18-member folk art music & dance troupe from Sudan visited India in March 2002 and a 28-member Modern Music troupe in December 2005 under ICCR sponsorship. In May 2006, the nine-member Indian International Gondwanaland Expedition led by Shri Akhil Bakshi spent five days in Sudan as part of its 25,000 KM goodwill journey by road in Mahindra Scorpios through 17 countries. Sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Smt. Sonal Mansingh led a five-member troupe to Sudan in November 2006 (the first Indian cultural troupe since 1960) and performed to packed halls in Khartoum, El Obeid and Wad Medani. In August 2007, ONGC sponsored performances by the Mumbai-based Rang Puhar song and dance ensemble in Khartoum on the occasion of Sudan’s Oil Day (31 August). In November 2007, ICCR sponsored the visit of an eleven-member Bharatnatyam troupe led by Smt. Jayalakshmi Eashwar. With the Sudanese Government backing out again, the Embassy arranged three performances in Khartoum with accommodation provided by ONGC.