This article covers the historical and cultural links between India and Turkmenistan, cultural events and exchanges, scholarships and the Indian community in Turkmenistan. It is based on the MEA brief of June 2026, and the figures for students and the community are those given in that brief.

According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India and Turkmenistan share ancient civilisational and cultural linkages. Archaeological finds in Southern Turkmenistan point to extensive contacts between the people of the Indus Valley civilisation and the Bronze Age settlements of Turkmenistan.

Remains of Buddhist stupas and statues of Buddha found in the ruins of Merv, an important oasis city on the "Silk Route" near Mary, reveal historical trade and cultural ties. In Delhi, the "Turkman Gate" was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in honour of the Sufi saint Shah Turkman Bayabani, who lived in India during the 13th century.

Indian culture in Turkmenistan

The brief states that Indian culture, dance, music, Yoga, Ayurveda and Bollywood films are quite popular in Turkmenistan, and that Bollywood movies are routinely shown on Turkmen TV. The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated in Turkmenistan every year since 2015.

Hindi is taught at the Azadi Institute of World Languages in Ashgabat. A "Hindi Corner" was inaugurated there in January 2026, during the visit of Secretary (West), MEA for the Foreign Office Consultations.

An "India Corner" at the Institute of International Relations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan was inaugurated in April 2022, during the visit of the then President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind.

Tagore and Magtymguly

A statue of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore was installed at the "Magtymguly Cultural Complex" in Ashgabat in May 2024. Celebrations of the 165th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore took place at the statue on 7 May 2026, with the participation of Deputy Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan Mr. Gurbanmyrat Myradaliyev.

Representatives of the State Committee of Turkmenistan for TV/Radio Broadcasting & Cinematography visited India in April 2024 to film a documentary on the 18th century Turkmen poet Magtymguly Pyragy.

Performing arts exchanges

The brief lists the following recent exchanges of dance and music troupes:

  • An 8-member Bharatnatyam troupe from ICCR visited Turkmenistan in January 2023 and performed in Ashgabat and Mary.
  • The Indian Bihu folk-dance troupe 'Gandarbha Kala Kendra' from Assam took part in the International Folk-Dance Festival 'Awaza - 2023' in June 2023.
  • An 11-member Turkmen dance group, "Nazli", took part in the 9th India International Dance & Music Festival in New Delhi in October 2023.
  • A 7-member Kathak dance troupe from ICCR visited Turkmenistan in January 2024.
  • An ICCR sponsored Folk Dance Group led by Shri Sukhvinder Singh visited Turkmenistan from 2-8 June 2025 for performances during the International Dance and Folklore festival in the Awaza tourist zone and Ashgabat.

Cultural and media programmes

Turkmenistan took part in the 1st India-Central Asia Culture Ministers meeting, held virtually in April 2023. The Executive Secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, Mrs. Chynar Rustamova, took part in a meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi in July 2024.

A 4-member Turkmen media delegation visited New Delhi and Bengaluru in April 2019 as part of the "Familiarization Visit for the Journalists from Central Asia". A 3-member media delegation visited India in December 2025 as part of the "Familiarization Visit for the Central Asian Media Editors/Journalists".

Scholarships and education

India offers scholarships for Turkmen students to pursue higher education in India under the ICCR Scholarship Scheme. According to the brief, 185 students from Turkmenistan have undergone higher education in India under ICCR scholarships since 2014.

The Indian community

About 100 Indian nationals live in Turkmenistan, according to the brief. Most are professionals or workers in the local construction, textiles and oil and gas sectors.