INDO-ARMENIAN FRIENDSHIP NGO
Relationship Inspired
First Anniversary of Indian Cultural Center marked
On the 23rd of January 2020, Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO organised the celebration of the First Anniversary of the Indian Cultural Center of Armenia with several distinguished guests in attendance.
In January 2019, Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO, which is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization (NGO) officially registered in Armenia since 2011, committed to benchmark INDIA-ARMENIA relationships in the world-map, to promote people to people connection, strengthen cultural, Socio-Economic ties and Trade engagement for a prosperous future, established the Indian Cultural Center in Yerevan, Armenia.
Since its establishment, the Indian Cultural Center has hosted several activities, including Hindi classes, Armenian classes, Classes and workshops on Indian dance forms, yoga classes, interactive sessions on history and culture, etc.
Among the guests in attendance were His Excellency K.D Dewal, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Republic of Armenia, Mr Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, MP and head of the Armenia-India Friendship Group of the National Assembly of Armenia, Mr Hovhannes Igityan, Member of Parliament and Vice-Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Relations, other Members of Parliament from the Armenia-India Friendship Group including Mr Armen Yeghiazaryan, Ms Taguhi Ghazaryan, Mrs Heriknaz Tigranyan, Mr Vahagn Tevosyan and Mrs Lusine Badalyan.
The dignitaries were also joined by the staff of the Indian Embassy, other respected guests such as Mr Mkrtich Ayvazyan, Vice-Rector for Education and Research at Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts, Mr Samvel Movsisyan, Founder and Director of Leadership School Armenia, Indian and Armenian businessmen, members of Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO, heads of various organisations, supporters, guests and well-wishers.
Programs Coordinator of Indo-Armenian friendship NGO Mr Karen Mkrtchyan welcomed the distinguished guests and thanked them for gracing the evening with their presence, while also giving a brief history of Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO and its activities before inviting the dignitaries to open the program with the auspicious lighting of the lamp ceremony.
Mr Rananjay Anand, Co-Founder and President of IAF also addressed the distinguished guests, thanked them for their presence and offered full support and cooperation of Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO and Indian Cultural Center to the respected members of the Armenia-India Friendship Group of the National Assembly of Armenia. He also thanked the Embassy of India for the continuous support and cooperation.
Mr Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, MP and head of the Armenia-India Friendship Group of the National Assembly of Armenia shared his congratulatory message to the Indian Cultural Center on behalf of his colleagues and accepted Mr Anand's offer of further cooperation between his team and IAF. He also shared with the guests about his close relations with the founders of IAF which go back to his student years.
His Excellency KD Dewal, Ambassador of India to Armenia congratulated IAF on the completion of 1 year since the establishment of the Indian Cultural Center. He also very generously presented the center with a set of new Indian Musical Instruments, including a Sitar, a Harmonium, a Dholak and a Veena which were gladly accepted by Mr Rananjay Anand. The Instruments were sent by the Indian Center for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and will help in propagating Indian Culture in Armenia.
Mr Shambhu Amitabh, HOC of the Indian Embassy shared a few insights on the long history of Indo-Armenian ties that go back a few thousand years, while also impressing the audience with his knowledge of the Armenian language. He also commended IAF for the work done throughout the years and expressed his best wishes for the occasion.
The guests were then guided to the dance studio by IAF Secretary-General Ms Lusine Torioyan where Marine Gharibyan and Anna Simonyan, both members of the Shakti Dance group had prepared Indian dance performances for the occasion. IAF member and leader of Akner Folk Group Anna Yeritsyan had also prepared a beautiful Armenian song for the guests.
The event also included beautiful paintings of India by talented artist and IAF member Mr Andranik Asatryan, who has never been to India but has a huge collection of works on Indian culture.
A small networking session followed the cultural program during which ideas of further cooperation between the people of both countries were discussed.
Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO thanks the Embassy of India to Armenia, especially His Excellency the Ambassador KD Dewal for the continued support and encouragement.
We are also grateful to Mr Hovhannes Hovhannisyan and all members of Armenia-India Friendship group of the Armenian parliament for taking time out of their busy schedule to spend the evening with us on this special occasion. We appreciate the presence of all our distinguished guests, supporters and members who attended the evening.
Indian Cultural Center Armenia looks forward to working with all interested parties in strengthening the centuries-old relations between our countries.
Long-Live Indo-Armenian Friendship.
