On Friday, April 7, the celebration of the Indian New Year took place at the Multifunctional Youth Center of the Penza Region. The event was organized by PSU partner Dr. Yuvraaj Solanki and the Russian-Indian Cultural Center with the support of the Institute of International Cooperation of Penza State University. Students from India prepared a theatrical performance, accompanied by creative musical and choreographic performances.

The celebration was attended by students, staff, teachers, alumni and management of the Institute of International Cooperation. Gleb Sintsov, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, who at that time was on a working visit to India, sent a video greeting with best wishes: “Holding such events helps to strengthen international friendship. And I am very happy that today our students studying at Penza State University have the opportunity to celebrate this wonderful holiday together!”.

Gudi Padwa, or Samvatsar padvo, is celebrated by representatives of the Marathi and Konkani peoples, who mainly live in the state of Maharashtra in southern India. It is the first day of the new year of the Maratha calendar. According to the lunar Hindu calendar, it coincides with the beginning of the month of Chaitra, that is, on the first day of the waxing moon. The festival marks the arrival of spring, that is, the hot season, harvest and mango season.