Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Uzbekistan. The country which has age-old ties with India. Both were earlier connected through the Silk Route and the people here love Indian culture, particularly Bollywood films, songs, yoga, Hindi and Indian food.

 

Akashvani correspondent reports that there is close affinity between the cultures of the two countries. Indian films, actors and songs are extremely popular in Uzbekistan since the era of Raj Kapoor. A 5-day Indian Cinema Week from 17 to 21 December 2024 was organised to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of Raj Kapoor, and a 4-day Film Festival was organised on the theme ‘Sashakt Nari – Celebrating Womanhood’ in 2025 and 2026, showcasing women-centric films from Hindi and regional cinema. Akashvani spoke to a young Uzbek National who narrated how he has grown up watching Indian movies and loves Shah Rukh Khan.

 

He said that Yoga is immensely popular, with more than 2000 participants attending International Yoga Day every year. Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan maintains a close relationship with the Indian Embassy. Two batches of Yoga Volunteers from the Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan (YFU) have been certified by the Ministry of Ayush to teach Yoga. The 7th International Conference on Yoga under the theme ‘Yoga for One Earth One Health’ was held in Tashkent last year.

Speaking to Aakshvani News, a yoga practitioner, Krysina said that yoga has benefited her a lot. She was also part of the first International Yoga Day celebrations in Delhi. She said that Yoga, films, food, spices and literature are keeping alive the age-old relationship between the two country who were earlier connected through the Silk Road.