Maldives will be hosting a joint festival with India to showcase and display various forms of traditional and cultural talents of both nations through a chain event across Maldives.

Director at Indian Cultural Centre in Maldives Dr. Syed Tanveer Nasreen announced that a grand festival was to be held in Maldives to take a dive through creative talents of numerous individuals of both countries during March 2020.

Musicians, dancers and artists will showcase their skills at the much-awaited festival. This chain event will commence in HDh. Kulhudhuffushi and end its journey in Addu Atoll.

India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity.

India was among the first to recognize Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.

Moreover, looking at the Maldivian tourism sector, India was the 5th largest source of tourist arrivals in Maldives out of the total of 14,84,274 tourists in 2018 with 6.1 % (over 90,474) from India. However, in the first half of 2019, with 99% growth, India has moved to second spot and is placed just below China. Global 862,589: China 140,265 (16.3%); India 82,140 (9.5%).