This article covers the Indian community in Madagascar, cultural cooperation, Yoga and festival events, and exchanges of artists, journalists and civic leaders between the two countries. It is based on the MEA bilateral brief of April 2026.

The Indian community

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, India's links with Madagascar date back to the 18th century, and the 19th and 20th centuries saw a steady increase in the number of people of Indian origin arriving in Madagascar. As of the brief, there are about 17,500 persons of Indian origin in Madagascar, including approximately 2500 NRIs holding Indian passports. Most are from Gujarat.

Most members of the community are in trading, while some are in manufacturing and other professions. The brief states that the role played by the Indian Diaspora in the economic development of Madagascar is appreciated at all levels.

A grand Hindu Temple was inaugurated in Antananarivo in July 2022. A private centre to showcase the history of the Indian Diaspora in Madagascar, "Indian Dhow", was inaugurated on 29 July 2022 by the then Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Richard Randriamandrato.

Cultural institutions and language

A Teacher of Indian Culture has been deployed under ICCR for the promotion of Yoga in Madagascar since June 2022. A locally hired Hindi Teacher offers free-of-cost Hindi language classes at the Embassy of India. An "India Corner" was launched on 6 December 2024 at the National Library of Madagascar in Antananarivo.

Indian TV channels are included in the cable TV package offered by local cable operators. A Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation and collaboration in broadcasting was signed in May 2022 between the Office of Malagasy Radio and Television (ORTM) and Prasar Bharati. The Director General of ORTM, Mr. Ranarivelo Nampoina, represented Madagascar at WAVES (World Audio-Visual & Entertainment Summit) in Mumbai from 1-4 May 2025. In 2022, a Malagasy translation of the Bhagavad Gita was provided to India's representative in UNESCO.

Names and landmarks

The brief records that a street in the city centre is named after Mahatma Gandhi, while a road connecting the Town Hall with the Embassy is named after Indira Gandhi. A Green Triangle named after Mahatma Gandhi was inaugurated by the Ambassador and the then Mayor of Antananarivo Mr. Naina Andriantsitohaina on 16 March 2022. The Embassy unveiled a plaque of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" on its premises on 10 March 2022.

Performances and festivals

The first ever Festival of India in Madagascar, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Sangeet Natak Academy, was held in 2015. ICCR-sponsored Contemporary Indian Dance groups performed in Antananarivo in August 2018 and October 2019. The Embassy organised two concerts with violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam and singer Kavita Krishnamurti on 24 and 25 June 2022. A State Promotion Event for Manipur, with dance performances by the "Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy", was held in Antananarivo on 19 August 2022.

Festival events recorded in the brief include:

  • Holi on 23 March 2024, attended by the President of the Senate H.E. Mr. Richard Ravalomanana and the Minister of Mines Mr. Olivier Rakotomalala
  • Ayurveda Day and Diwali at the Embassy on 30 October 2024
  • World Hindi Day at the Embassy on 10 January 2025, attended by the Minister of Technical Education and Vocational Training H.E. Mrs. Marie Marcelline Rasoloarisoa and the Minister of Youth and Sports
  • Holi on 15 March 2025, attended by the Vice President of the National Assembly H.E. Mr. Augustin Andriamananoro, the Minister of Youth and Sports and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Eric Ratsimbazafy
  • a celebration in Antananarivo on 10 December 2025 of the "Inscription of Deepavali in UNESCO's Representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity"

Yoga

The International Day of Yoga was celebrated in Antananarivo on 21 June 2024, with the President of the Senate H.E. Mr. Richard Ravalomanana and the Acting Minister of Youth and Sport H.E. Mr. Valery Ramonjavelo taking part. The 11th International Day of Yoga was celebrated in Antananarivo on 21 June 2025, with the President of the Senate, the Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. Abdulah Marson Mustapha, the Mayor of Antananarivo Mrs. Harilala Ramanantsoa and other dignitaries.

The Embassy has also held Yoga sessions outside the capital. They include a session at Ampefy, near the Itasy lake, on 25 February 2024, attended by the Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts Mr. Joel Randriamandranto; a session in Antsiranana (Diana region) on 21 December 2024 with the Foreign Minister H.E. Mrs. Rasata Rafaravavitafika; a session in Mahajanga on 7 March 2025, on the eve of International Women's Day, organised with the Ministry of Youth and Sports; and a curtain-raiser event at the "Baobab Alley" in Morondava on 13 June 2025 with the Governor of Menabe region. The Minister of Youth and Sports also took part in a Yoga session in Antananarivo on 18 January 2025.

Millets

As part of the International Year of Millets, the Embassy organised a live streaming of the "Global Millet's Conference" for members of the Indian community on 18 March 2023. An event on 20 July 2023 was attended by the Ministers of Agriculture and Public Health of Madagascar and the Deputy Representative of FAO in Madagascar. On 26 July 2023, the Embassy and the University of Antananarivo held an event to promote millets.

Crafts fairs

Malagasy artists have taken part in the Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Haryana each year since 2023: 20 artists from 3-18 February 2023, 15 artists from 2-18 February 2024 and 19 artists from 7-23 February 2025. A 20-member cultural troupe took part in the 39th Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2026 from 31 January to 15 February 2026.

The then Mayor of Antananarivo Mr. Naina Andriantsitohaina visited India under ICCR's Distinguished Visitors' Program from 7-15 November 2021 and met the Mayor of Mumbai, Smt. Kishori Pednekar. Two journalists from Madagascar visited New Delhi and Hyderabad from 9-16 December 2023 on a familiarisation trip organised by the Ministry of External Affairs for select African countries.

The Mayor of Antananarivo H.E. Mrs. Harilala Ramanantsoa took part in a tree plantation ceremony organised by the Embassy on 16 September 2025, as part of the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign.

The number of ICCR training slots availed by Madagascar is given in the development partnership article of this guide.