This article covers cultural, educational and people-to-people links between India and the Dominican Republic (DR), including university partnerships, cultural festivals, yoga training, youth and media exchanges, and the Indian community in the country. It is based on the MEA bilateral brief of July 2026.

University partnerships

According to the MEA brief of July 2026, a MoU on Cooperation in the field of Higher Education between Universidad APEC and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) was signed in Santo Domingo on 6 July 2026. The brief describes it as the first direct MoU between universities of India and the Dominican Republic, allowing academic collaboration, student exchange and experience sharing.

On the same day, an "India Corner" at the library of Universidad APEC was inaugurated by Ambassador Mr. KD Dewal and the Rector of UNAPEC University, Mr Eric Prez Vega. It is the first India Corner set up by the Indian Embassy in an educational institution in the Dominican Republic.

Landmarks linked to India

During his visit in April 2023, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar unveiled a Mahatma Gandhi statue at a square in Gazcue, which was renamed Mahatma Gandhi Plaza. He also inaugurated an India Pavilion at the Faro a Colón museum.

Performing arts

An ICCR-sponsored Odissi dance troupe led by Ms. Ranjana Gauhar visited from 24-31 January 2023. It performed at Centro Leon in Santiago, City Hall in Salcedo, and Ágora Mall and Teatro Nacional in Santo Domingo, with local hospitality and venues arranged by Mirex. An ICCR-sponsored Bhangra dance troupe led by Ms. Preeti visited from 24-31 January 2025 and performed at various venues.

Festivals and film

The Indian Embassy organised the first "Namaste India Week" from 23 to 29 January 2023 at Agora Mall. It offered chanting of Vedic mantras, a yoga demonstration, a fashion show of traditional clothes from different Indian states, stalls for Indian food, Ayurveda products, tourism packages, garments, henna and saree draping, and a classical dance presentation by the Odissi troupe. The 2nd edition was held at the same mall from 8-12 April 2024 and the 3rd from 20 to 26 January 2025.

India was the Country of Honour at the 17th edition of the Festival de Cine Global Santo Domingo, held from 31 Jan to 06 Feb 2025 and organised by Funglode, a think tank led by former President Leonel Fernandez. Four Indian films were screened. The brief also records a four-day Indian film festival organised by the Embassy from 19 to 22 February in Santo Domingo.

The Mission organised the Hola Bollywood Film Festival 2026 from 20-22 February 2026 at Caribbean Cinema Multiplex in Santo Domingo. The Film Festival CinemaScope India 2024, organised with INTEC University, showed four Spanish-dubbed Indian films at the university's auditorium from April to July 2024. Its 2nd edition was held at the Dominican Culture and Convention Centre UTESA (CCDUTESA) with the University of Technology of Santiago (UTESA) from 12-13 September 2025.

Yoga teacher training

The Indian Embassy worked with INFOTEP, the national skill development agency, to train yoga teachers:

  • 24 yoga teachers over 30 weeks, in a course that ended in February 2023
  • a second course with 18 participants, ending in November 2023
  • a third course with 21 participants, ending in March 2024
  • a fourth and last course with 32 participants, ending in March 2025

Anniversaries and national day events

To mark 25 years of diplomatic relations, the Indian Embassy and the Dominican Embassy in New Delhi jointly ran a logo contest in both countries. Syed Momin Iqbal from India was declared the winner on 26 March 2024 and won prize money of USD 1000.

At the Embassy's request, the Dominican Foreign Office lit its premises in the Indian tricolour on 15 August 2022, 26 January 2023, 15 August 2023, 26 January 2024 and 15 August 2024, and on 04 May 2024 to mark 25 years of diplomatic relations.

The first National Day Reception in Santo Domingo was held on 26 January 2023, with Vice Minister of Bilateral Foreign Policy Jose Julio Gómez as chief guest. First Lady Raquel Arbaje was chief guest at the second, on 26 January 2024. Vice President Raquel Peña was chief guest at the third, which the President of the Senate and the Minister of Higher Education also attended. Vice Minister of Bilateral Foreign Policy Francisco Caraballo was chief guest at the fourth, also attended by the President of the Senate.

Youth and media exchanges

Two Dominican journalists, Mr. Luís González and Mr. Tavarez Suarez, visited India from 22-29 March 2023 on a familiarisation visit organised by the Ministry for Latin American and Caribbean countries. Three Dominican youth leaders, Luis Báez, Deputy Representative of the Province of Peravia, civil rights activist Natalia Mármol and Roselvis Vargas, Strategic Communication Advisor of the Social Policy Cabinet of the Presidency, took part in ICCR's 6th GenNext Program from 10-19 October 2022.

The Indian community

As of the brief, about 100 Indian nationals and people of Indian origin live in the Dominican Republic. Some work as engineers or software experts or represent Indian companies, and several businesspersons are part of the community. They are scattered across the country and live in cities including Santo Domingo, Puntacana, Puerto Plata and Santiago.

Indian spiritual organisations present in the country include the Art of Living, Swaminarayan Gurukul temple, Paramahansana Yogananda meditation centres, ISKCON temple and Satya Sai Baba of Puttaparthy, and the brief notes that they have many followers across the country. It also states that Indian cuisine is sought after, and that there are five Indian restaurants: three in Santo Domingo and two in Punta Cana.