Fifty years of diplomatic ties between Seychelles and India have been matched by an equally rich cultural relationship. From temple festivals and cuisine to cultural exchange programmes and troupe performances, this bond continues to be one of the most visible and enduring threads connecting the two nations.
Shared Culture
There is a Hindu temple on Mahé Island in Seychelles, the Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple. The temple was constructed in 1992 in a South Indian Dravidian style of architecture with its distinct features such as the gopuram (a type of tower), the mandapam (a ceremonial pavilion), and the garba griha (the sacred inner chamber). The temple has a distinctive kaleidoscopic appearance that has made it a popular tourist attraction. The Seychellois-Indian population gathers here annually to observe several important cultural events and festivals, such as the Thaipoosam Kavadi festival, the Sri Skandha festival and Ganesh Chaturthi. Many Seychellois political dignitaries took part in the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities at the temple in August 2025.
Contemporary Seychellois cuisine bears many Indian influences, owing to the inter-cultural development on the archipelago across centuries. Curries and chutneys are prominent in Seychellois cuisine, as are the flavourful spices. Rice jalebis or moutay is a dessert of Indian origin bearing a high degree of resemblance to the Indian jalebi. The popular snack moulouk is another example, tracing its origins to the South Indian snack, murukku.
Community Events
Seychellois leaders and the local community are proactive collaborators of the High Commission of India (HCI) to Seychelles in organising community events. Health-oriented events are frequently conducted and attract large gatherings. A Viksit Bharat Run was organised by HCI on the Anse Major Trail on Mahé Island in September 2025.
Most recently, an open yoga session was held on 21 June 2026 at Palais des Sports stadium in Seychelles for the 12th International Day of Yoga. People of all ages attended the session, and the visiting dignitaries included the First Lady H.E. Mrs. Veronique Herminie; Principal Minister and Minister for Fisheries, Agriculture, and the Blue Economy, Mr. Wallace Cosgrow; Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Mr. Barry Faure; and Minister for Youth and Sports, Ms Kalsey Belle. In 2026, yoga sessions have been conducted across Seychelles in partnership with resorts, schools, elderly homes and the Office of the First Lady. Locals and HCI officials came together for a yoga session to observe the 10th Ayurveda Day in September 2025.
In a unique endeavour, Indian Navy’s 1st Training Squadron conducted a yoga session on their naval ship in September 2025 when they docked at Port Victoria, followed next day by the Indian Navy Band’s performance at the Clock Tower in Victoria, Seychelles. Indian Army’s Motorcycle Team, the “DareDevils”, showcased their astounding talents at the celebrations of the 49th National Day of Seychelles. Indian Naval Ship INS Ikshak also welcomed Seychellois people aboard in June 2026 to explore the ship, discover Indian naval heritage and interact with the crew.
Delegations from Seychelles and India have cooperated in events such as the National Cadet Corps Youth Exchange Programme (NCC-YEP), the Surajkund International Crafts Mela, and Seychelles-India Day. Most recently, for instance, NCC-YEP candidates from Seychelles visited India to participate in the Republic Day Camp 2026. Troupes sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) have often performed, like at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles (ICCS), and the National History Museum in Victoria to celebrate the 76th Republic Day of India in 2025. Seychelles-India Day was celebrated in the days leading up to the 78th Independence Day of India. The event was honoured in Seychelles with friendly cricket matches, a national chess tournament, performances by Indian troupes, and a food festival.
High-level Engagements
Cultural Exchange Programmes have been signed between Seychelles and India, between 2003-05 and 2018-22. During the state visit of the Seychellois President Dr. Patrick Herminie to India in February 2026, another Cultural Exchange Programme was renewed for the years 2026-30, covering areas such as theatre, music, literature, library and archives, archaeology and anthropology, youth programmes, seminars and science centres. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of Youth and Sports was signed in November 2023. To facilitate further interaction between the citizens of both countries, a three-month gratis visa was introduced for Seychellois travellers to India during the 2015 state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Seychelles.
The two countries have strived to honour each other throughout their diplomatic ties. Since 2022, the Peace Park in Victoria has held a statue of Mahatma Gandhi alongside those of Nelson Mandela, the first President of a democratic South Africa and Sir James Mancham, the first President of independent Seychelles. In October 2025, the Landscape and Waste Management Agency of Seychelles and HCI officials came together at Stadium Car Park, Victoria for a cleanliness drive on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, and the Seychelles government officials joined a tree-plantation drive the next day, to honour and promote the ecological ideals of the foremost Indian leader.
Seychelles has gifted Aldabra Giant Tortoises to India in a gesture of goodwill and ecological conservation. The species, listed as vulnerable, arrived in Alipore Zoological Garden, Kolkata in 2014 and in Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad in 2018. During his June 2026 State Visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Giant Tortoise Enclosure at the Seychelles National Botanical Garden with President Herminie, and the two leaders planted a tree together to mark the occasion.
Conclusion
The cultural bond between Seychelles and India remains one of the most enduring pillars of their fifty-year relationship, expressed through shared festivals, cuisine, and community life. As both nations look to the future, this connection promises to keep deepening for decades to come.
