The Delphic Cultural Summit in Kolkata, brought together participants from 45 countries to promote arts, cultural education and global unity. Hosted by the International Delphic Council and the Delphic Council of West Bengal, the event showcased Bengal’s rich heritage through captivating performances, insightful talks and interactive sessions, while fostering connections across cultures.
Universal love for art and culture
JUST over a year ago, I received an invitation from India to attend the Delphic Cultural Summit in Kolkata, a city officially known as Calcutta until 2001.
Due to my work commitments at the time, I could not immediately accept the invitation. However, Ramesh Prasanna, secretary-general of the International Delphic Council, was persistent and encouraged me to bring another Malaysian along.
Gerald Goh, a visual artist who had participated in two International Delphic Games, expressed enthusiasm for the trip.
Curious about this rejuvenated international movement promoting arts and cultural education, we flew to Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal.
The four-hour flight on Air Asia brought us to Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU). Often regarded as an intellectual and cultural hub in the historic region of Bengal, Kolkata was the perfect setting for the Delphic Cultural Summit, held from October 12 to 14, 2023.
The event, hosted by the International Delphic Council (IDC) and the Delphic Council of West Bengal, was part of the Durga Puja Preview and jointly presented by MassArt, UNESCO, and the British Council India.
After a restful night at our hotel and a delicious Indian breakfast, we joined a large group of participants from 45 countries.
Our first day began at Techno India University (TIU), one of West Bengal’s leading private universities, known for fostering cultural and technical excellence.
The students and faculty presented captivating performances, followed by speaker sessions featuring IAS Rajanvir Singh Kapur, Managing Director of the West Bengal Transport Corporation; Manoshi Roy Chowdhury, Co-Chairperson of Techno India Group; and Roberta Williams, IDC Membership Chair from New York.
In Sarawak, where Indian culture is not prevalent, Sarawakians Gerald Goh and I were fascinated to learn about Durga Puja, the world’s largest public arts festival. The university buzzed with festivity, and it was heartwarming to reunite with friends from previous Delphic Games in Kuching (2005) and Jeju Island (2009).
Notable among them was Davina Bautista, President of the International Delphic Movement, who brought along members from the Philippines.
We were also moved by the performances of Indian artists, including a Bihu presentation by Dr Prasanna Gogoi and a mesmerising six-dhol (Indian drum) performance by Somna Somnath Bora Oja. The day concluded with a unique pandal-hopping experience, showcasing Kolkata’s Durga Puja festivities — a grand celebration of artistry, spirituality, and community.
The second day focused on the economic and artistic aspects of Durga Puja. The talk on mask-making and clay idol artistry was organised at Town Hall, curated by Myndroot, eastern India’s top-tier advertising and digital marketing company, and the Delphic Council of West Bengal, popularly known as Bongo Delphic.
We witnessed a breathtaking Chhau dance performance by veteran Jagannath Choudhury from Purulia, followed by an interactive session with China Pal, one of Kumartuli’s finest idol makers.
The final day was dedicated to discussions on spreading the Delphic vision globally. Delegates shared inspiring stories of unity and compassion. Representing Malaysia, I spoke about my 19 years of experience with the Delphic movement.
When the three-day summit closed, heartfelt hugs and promises to reunite underscored the universal love for art and culture.
The Delphic Council of West Bengal, led by Meghdut Roy Chowdhury, hosted the summit to showcase Bengal’s rich cultural heritage on a global stage.
“At this summit, we are celebrating the power of unity, arts, and culture,” Chowdhury remarked.
The Persatuan Delphic Seni Dan Kebudayaan Malaysia (Malaysian Delphic Arts and Culture Association) successfully registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on October 30, 2024. Based in Kuching, it has members from nine Malaysian states — Sarawak, Sabah, Selangor, Penang, Melaka, Perak, Kelantan, Johor, and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. The incumbent president, Victoria Fong, and secretary-general Gerald Goh are both from Kuching.
This milestone will enable more Malaysians from diverse states to participate in Delphic activities worldwide, with aspirations to host the Asian Delphic Games in Malaysia one day. For enquiries about the Malaysian Delphic movement, you can email the association at delphicmalaysia@gmail.com
The International Delphic Council (IDC) is a not-for-profit, charitable, non-aligned, non-sectarian and non-governmental organisation (NGO), headquartered in Berlin, Germany. It was formed as a League of 20 Nations in 1994 in Berlin to revive the Delphic Games of the Modern Era. For more information, check on https://delphic.org/
