This article covers cultural exchanges between India and Colombia, yoga and interest in Ayurveda, memorials to Indian figures in Colombia, scholarships offered by Colombia, and the Indian community in Colombia. The information comes from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of June 2026.

Cultural ties

According to the MEA brief of June 2026, the strengthening of cultural ties "saw an upswing in recent years", and the brief refers to "growing interest among Colombians about India's culture and heritage". It says Indian festivals, dances, music, gastronomy and spirituality are of increasing interest to Colombians, and that some Colombians who learnt Indian classical and folk dances in India are now professional performers.

Gandhi Jayanti, Tagore Jayanti and Ayurveda Day are celebrated every year. In April 2023, India and Colombia signed the Cultural Exchange Programme 2023-26 during the visit of the External Affairs Minister to Colombia.

Events and exchanges

The Embassy has organised several festivals, performances, exhibitions and film shows in recent years. Working with local socio-cultural institutions, it has held dance performances at universities during their International weeks.

Troupes have travelled in both directions. In 2024, the Colombian musical group "Colectivo Colombia" travelled to India to take part in events including the 8th India International Folk Festival in New Delhi, the International Dance Festival in Varanasi and the International Dance & Music Festival in Chandigarh.

Photographic exhibitions on India have been held in public and private spaces in Colombia. They included an exhibition on the life of Mahatma Gandhi at the Bogotá headquarters of the Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization (ARN) in March 2024.

India was the Guest of Honour Country at the International Book Fair of Bogotá (FILBo) 2026, which the brief describes as one of the most important cultural events in 2026. The Indian pavilion offered visitors multilingual literature, meetings with acclaimed and emerging authors, and cultural performances and exhibitions.

Yoga and Ayurveda

The brief states that yoga is very popular in Colombia and that a number of yoga institutes run regular classes. A Yoga Teacher (TIC) deputed by ICCR was on the strength of the Mission from January 2016 till June 2020, and again since August 2025.

With the teacher in post, the Mission has organised lectures, conferences and presentations on yoga and Indian culture, and yoga classes for the general public, the diplomatic corps, the corporate sector and Embassy officials. It also organised Yoga Instructor Diploma Courses at Externado University and Piloto University.

The Mission organises the International Day of Yoga (IDY) in several Colombian cities, some events on its own and others with yoga institutes and municipalities. Each year, over 10,000 yoga enthusiasts take part. For the 10th International Yoga Day in 2024, the brief records that 20 cities across Colombia took part in programmes run by local yoga schools and instructors together with government authorities, companies and study centres.

The brief also notes increased interest in mental and physical care in recent years, with more Colombians turning to traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda.

Busts of Gandhi and Tagore

The brief lists the following busts in Colombia:

  • two busts of Mahatma Gandhi in Bogota, one at CINSET Corner and the other at the Municipal Library at El Tunal
  • a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Medellin
  • a bust of Rabindranath Tagore at the Caro y Cuervo Institute in Bogota
  • a bust of Mahatma Gandhi unveiled under AKAM celebrations on 7 February 2022 in the city of Baranquilla, and another at the University of Tadeo on 30 January 2023

Scholarships offered by Colombia

Colombia offered 8 to 9 scholarships every year for Language Assistants from 2017 to 2020. It also offered 8 scholarships to tourist guides to learn Spanish in Colombia in 2017 and 2018.

Indian community

As of the June 2026 brief, the Indian community in Colombia comprises approximately 1200 members. The majority are professionals employed with Indian companies based in Colombia.

Socio-cultural associations such as the Indian United Association of Colombia (IUAC), Amigos de la India and Somos Indios organise Indian festivals and other cultural activities in which both Indians and Colombians take part.