Ministry of Culture to Host 1st G20 Culture Group Meet in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Secretary, Culture Ministry Govind Mohan said , "India is so rich and diverse in culture that the cultural engagements acquire their own significance and importance. The G20's overarching theme is "Vasudev Kutumbakam"- 'One Earth, One Family, One Future.'

Ministry of Culture has developed a robust programme of cultural projects inspired by India's G20 theme of "Vasudev Kutumbakam". The Secretary went on to say that India's G20 Culture Track is based on the concept of 'Culture for LIFE,' or environmentally conscious living as a campaign for sustainable living.

Govind Mohan also stated that the Culture Working Group will hold four meetings, one each in Khajuraho, Bhubaneshwar, and Hampi, with the final location to be determined. He also informed that for Khajuraho, the theme is "Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property. This cultural working group meeting in Khajuraho will also have an exhibition organized at the Maharaja Chhatrasal Convention Centre, which will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Culture G Kishan Reddy along with the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Chouhan," Secretary Culture added.

Cultural programmes, including Khajuraho Dance Festival Cultural performances, will be organized on the occasion, according to Govind Mohan. The delegates will also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Western Group of Temples. They will also be transported to the Panna Tiger Reserve. The meeting will be attended by more than 125 delegates. Khajuraho, an ancient city, is famous for its majestic temples and intricate sculptures. The Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built between 950 and 1050 AD by the Chandela Dynasty.

The aesthetic of Nagara-style architecture, ornamented with intricate and detailed sculptures, serves as a window into the time's socio-cultural practises. In the 12th century AD, the temple site in Khajuraho had 85 temples covering 20 square kilometres, according to historical records. However, only 25 of these temples have survived today, spread across a 6-square-kilometer area. As part of the meeting, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Chauhan, and the Minister for Culture, Tourism, and DoNER, G. Kishan Reddy, will inaugurate an exhibition titled "Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures" at the Maharaja Chhatrasal Convention Centre (MCCC).

On December 1, 2022, India assumed the G20 presidency, with the theme 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - 'One Earth, One Family, One Future'. The philosophy is based on the Maha Upanishad, an ancient Indian Sanskrit text that affirms the worth of all life - human, animal, and plant - and their interconnectedness on Earth and throughout the universe. Its spirit is rooted in the ideas of inclusiveness, universal welfare, and harmony among all beings, and it is based on the belief that all individuals are collectively responsible to one another and to their shared future.

'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' aims to foster, celebrate, and incorporate the member states' diverse cultural traditions while striving for holistic living and creating a pro-people planet. The CWG will evolve over four meetings in four historic Indian cities, steering the G20 dialogue on four priority areas. India's CWG will reflect the emergence of Culture as a prominent theme on the global stage; it will use the term "Culture" to renew multilateral and multicultural cooperation at all levels, with the goal of advancing this ideal and informing future global cultural policies and initiatives.

The CWG of India has 4 priority areas: protection and restitution of cultural property; harnessing living heritage for a sustainable future; promotion of cultural and creative industries and the creative economy; and leveraging digital technologies for cultural protection and promotion. To further engage with these priorities, the CWG has created a robust year-long programme of cultural projects such as exhibitions, immersive experiences, symposiums, seminars, art residencies, workshops, publications, and so on.