New Delhi: SAMBHAV 2025, hosted by the Association for Learning Performing Arts & Normative Action (A.L.P.A.N.A.), marked its 20th year as a milestone of creativity, inclusion, and human spirit. Held at the India International Centre, New Delhi, on 4th and 5th October 2025, the international event brought together artists with disabilities (Divyangjan) from India and across the world, celebrating two decades of A.L.P.A.N.A.’s dedication to empowerment through performing and visual arts.
The two-day celebration opened with messages of encouragement from dignitaries and supporters who commended SAMBHAV’s enduring role in promoting inclusion through art and culture. Their words reflected A.L.P.A.N.A.’s mission to create spaces where ability takes centre stage and art becomes a universal language of equality.
The morning of 4 October 2025 began with the Launching Ceremony, graced by Chief Guest Shri Rajesh Verma, IAS (Retd.), Chairman, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Government of India, and Guest of Honour Shri Devdas Apte ji (Bapu ji). The lighting of the ceremonial lamp and the welcome song by students of A.L.P.A.N.A. set a tone of warmth, hope, and collective purpose. The ceremony was followed by the inauguration of the Art and Craft Exhibition by noted painter Mrs. Anupama Trigunayat, showcasing paintings and handcrafted works created by Divyang artists.
Workshops during the day included a Music Therapy Workshop by Ms. Suzanne Louise Whiteman from Australia and a Handicraft and Painting Workshop by Mrs. Alka Agrawal, Head of Creative Arts Faculty, A.L.P.A.N.A. These sessions offered participants meaningful opportunities for learning, expression, and creative collaboration.
The evening ceremony was inaugurated by Chief Guest Shri Vivek Agrawal, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and Presiding Guest Mrs. Ravneet Kaur, IAS (Retd.), Chairperson, Competition Commission of India. Distinguished Guests included H.E. Mahishini Colonne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India; Dr. K. Rangarajan, Director, IIFT, Kolkata; Dr. Tanmoy Bhattacharya, Heritage Expert; and Shri Niseeth Mehta, CEO, Microsign – Centre for Excellence. The ceremony celebrated international artistic collaboration through cultural performances by groups from Australia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nagaland, Odisha, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. Each presentation reflected the essence of “SAMBHAV”—meaning “possible”—through stories of resilience, identity, and joy. The release of the event souvenir added a moment of pride, followed by reflections from dignitaries and a vote of thanks by Shri B.C. Nayak, Mentor of A.L.P.A.N.A.
The second day began with a Yoga Therapy Workshop conducted by Ms. Heetal, Senior Yoga Therapist from S-VYASA University, Delhi Centre, followed by a Seminar on Yoga chaired by Prof. Dr. Rabindra Acharya from S-VYASA University, Bengaluru, where Dr. Reela Hota, Odissi Exponent, Researcher and Author, presented an insightful paper on the intersection of yoga, movement, and inner harmony.
The International Seminar on “Artists with Disabilities for an Inclusive Society,” chaired by Shri Sanjeev Chanana, brought together speakers from Australia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, Russia, and India, who shared their global perspectives on accessibility and the transformative role of art.
Following the seminar, a Dance Therapy Workshop conducted by the Mother Charitable Foundation, Sri Lanka, offered participants an experiential exploration of expression through movement. The workshop blended traditional Sri Lankan rhythms with therapeutic dance techniques, emphasizing emotional release, joy, and inclusivity.
The concluding evening featured inspiring performances by groups from India, Nepal, Russia, Tajikistan, and others, celebrating unity in diversity through rhythm and movement. Distinguished guests included Shri I.C.P. Keshari, IAS (Retd.), Director General, Association of Power Producers; Amb. Sanjay Verma, IFS (Retd.), Former Ambassador of India to Japan and Canada; Shri Subrata Das, Former Secretary Rank, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India; and Smt. Anju Ranjan, IFS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The event culminated in a heartfelt vote of thanks by Guru Smt. Alpana Nayak, acknowledging the dedication of artists, volunteers, and partners who have shaped SAMBHAV’s remarkable journey.
For twenty years, A.L.P.A.N.A. has been committed to integrating persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) into mainstream art and culture. Since 2006, SAMBHAV has evolved into a global platform that celebrates ability, nurtures inclusion, and redefines what is possible. In its 20th year, SAMBHAV 2025 once again reaffirmed that when art leads the way, inclusion is not only achievable but becomes beautifully inevitable.
