Delhi's Ukrainian Community Marks Independence Milestone With Music and Food
Members of the Ukrainian community in Delhi gathered on 22 August to commemorate 35 years of the restoration of Ukraine's independence, holding an evening centred around the theme of 'Volia'—a Ukrainian concept representing freedom, willpower, and national resilience.
The gathering brought together community members and diplomats for an evening featuring traditional cuisine and three distinct musical acts. Attendees were served traditional dishes including borscht, a classic beetroot soup, alongside varenyky dumplings, crispy potato pancakes known as deruny, and honey cake served with cranberry compote.
The cultural programme opened with an opera performance featuring a soprano accompanied by violin and piano. The second act presented traditional Ukrainian folk music, beginning with an ode to the two-colour vyshyvanka, where performers explained the symbolic significance of red representing love and black representing sorrow. The evening concluded with an Indo-Ukrainian fusion set that blended the sounds of flute, sitar, and tabla with electric guitars.
Speaking at the gathering, Artem Nosko, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Ukraine, highlighted the significance of the occasion against the backdrop of ongoing conflict. He explained that after centuries of striving for independence, it was restored in 1991, adding that the country is currently defending its freedom. Nosko noted that the event was part of a conscious, wartime diplomacy rather than a traditional, large-scale national day celebration, while expressing confidence in his country's endurance.
Maryna Akram, co-founder of the Association of Ukrainians in India, addressed the attendees in Hindi, expressing gratitude for local support. Akram, who has lived in India for 24 years, noted that the support of the Indian community provides strength to the diaspora, adding that while members remain deeply tied to Ukraine, India has become like a second motherland to them.
