New Delhi/Jakarta 06 July (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised a series of cultural performances in Indonesia that showcased the deep civilisational and cultural ties between India and Indonesia, saying the presentations reflected the enduring values and shared heritage that have connected the two nations for centuries.

Sharing his thoughts after witnessing the performances during his official visit to Indonesia, the Prime Minister said the cultural programmes beautifully demonstrated how ancient traditions have continued to flourish across generations while acquiring distinct local expressions.

PM Modi said he was deeply impressed by a performance of Wayang Kulit, Indonesia's renowned shadow puppet theatre, which brought the timeless story of the Ramayana to life. He described the performance as a moving reminder of the shared civilisational heritage of India and Indonesia, noting that these traditions have travelled across seas and generations while preserving their eternal values.

The Prime Minister congratulated the performing troupe, Ganesh, for presenting the classical epic with exceptional artistic excellence. He said the performance reflected the strong cultural links that continue to bind the people of both countries despite geographical distances.

During his visit to Jakarta,PM Modi also watched a Bharatanatyam recital presented by the Samanvaya Group. Appreciating the performance, he said it was heartening to see one of India's oldest classical dance traditions being preserved and presented with such dedication, discipline and artistic excellence by performers in Indonesia.

The Prime Minister noted that such cultural exchanges strengthen the people-to-people relationship between the two countries and reinforce the shared values that have shaped their historical friendship.

Another highlight of the cultural programme was Homage to the Triple Gem, presented by artists of the Vihara Dharma Ratna Group. PM Modi described the performance as exceptional, saying it reflected the timeless teachings of Lord Buddha and the profound values embodied in the Triple Gem—Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

He said it was encouraging to witness Indonesia's rich Buddhist heritage being preserved and celebrated with such devotion and enthusiasm. According to the Prime Minister, the performance underscored the enduring spiritual and cultural connections between India and Indonesia, rooted in centuries of shared Buddhist traditions.

The Prime Minister said these performances illustrated the strength of the centuries-old civilisational relationship between the two nations and reaffirmed the importance of cultural diplomacy in deepening bilateral ties.

India and Indonesia elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018, and cultural cooperation remains one of the key pillars of the partnership. The two countries continue to strengthen collaboration in areas including heritage conservation, education, tourism, maritime cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

PM Modi is on an official visit to Indonesia at the invitation of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, during which the two leaders are holding discussions aimed at further expanding cooperation across a wide range of sectors while reinforcing the longstanding historical, cultural and strategic partnership between the two countries.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar