Frequently Asked Questions

Cambridge is home to a large and growing Indian community, including professionals, researchers, students, entrepreneurs, doctors, healthcare workers, academics, and families. Many have made Cambridge their home and contribute significantly to the city's economic, educational, scientific, and cultural life.

Despite this strong presence, there has been no large-scale public event dedicated to India, showcasing the diversity, heritage, achievements, and contributions of India and the Indian diaspora in Cambridge.

Indian communities have been celebrating their festivals and traditions in Cambridgeshire for many years. These celebrations are often organised indoors in village halls, community centres, schools, religious venues, and parish halls. Many of these events naturally focus on a particular region, language group, state, faith, or cultural community.

Cambridge India Day provides something different. It brings together people from across India, from North, South, East, West, and North-East India, on a single public platform. The event works with communities connected to all 28 States and 8 Union Territories, showcasing the diversity, traditions, heritage, food, arts, music, dance, and achievements of the nation, and promotes friendship, mutual respect, community cohesion, and cultural understanding among all who live in Cambridge and Cambridgeshire.

At the same time, Cambridge India Day serves as a cultural bridge between India and the wider global community. It provides an opportunity for local British residents, international visitors, academics, students, and people from all backgrounds to learn about and experience the richness of Indian civilisation and its diverse traditions.

Through its dance, music, food, attire, languages, arts, crafts, artefacts, literature, and linguistic heritage, Cambridge India Day promotes cultural understanding, education, and appreciation. Visitors can explore the traditions of different Indian states and union territories, discover regional customs and histories, and gain a deeper understanding of one of the world's oldest and most diverse civilisations.

By bringing these cultural expressions into a public space, Cambridge India Day creates opportunities for dialogue, friendship, learning, and mutual respect between communities. It is not only a celebration for the Indian diaspora but also an educational and cultural experience for the wider Cambridge community and the international population that calls Cambridge home.

The idea of Cambridge India Day was conceived by a charity, CamCareUK, which has a long track record of delivering community cohesion, cultural, educational, and wellbeing projects across Cambridgeshire.

The inspiration came from the events organised by the High Commission of India in London, where all Indian states exhibited, projecting arts, crafts, and heritage, ran the food festival where each state offered the state's delicacy free to the visitors, and the artists projected their states via folk and classical performances.

CamCareUK realised there was no equivalent public event in Cambridge that could showcase India on such a scale, and the concept was born in 2023.

Recognising this gap, Dr. Bhattacharya from CamCareUK envisioned an event that would bring together all Indian communities, regardless of state, language, religion, ethnicity, or cultural background, under one banner.

The aim was to create a free, inclusive, and highly visible celebration in the heart of Cambridge, where both the Indian diaspora and the wider public could come together to experience the richness of India's presence in Cambridge.

Today, Cambridge India Day serves not only as a celebration of Indian heritage but also as a cultural bridge between India, Cambridge, and the wider international community that calls the city home.

The concept of Cambridge India Day was first introduced in 2024, when CamCare UK organised a pilot event at Christ's Pieces Park in Cambridge City Centre.

The pilot events held in 2024 and 2025 helped test the concept, engage with the Indian community, build partnerships, and demonstrate public interest in a large-scale celebration of Indian culture in Cambridge.

In the first years, in 2024 and 2025, the emphasis was on State Exhibitions, State Performances, Regional Local Food, Indian Dhol, and a Fashion Parade.

Cambridge India Day is a free two-day community festival, on the first weekend in July in Cambridge, showcasing culture, traditions, food, music, dance, diversity, travel, tourism, language, literature, and heritage of all 28 states of India in the heart of Cambridge.

Saturday 4 July and Sunday 5 July 2026.

Jesus Green, Cambridge. See our venue & directions page for a map and travel information.

Yes. Entry is completely free for all visitors.

The Indian Diaspora of Cambridgeshire. The Indian Communities, Performing Art Schools, and Business owners will be hosting the event together.

CamCare UK, a registered charity, will provide the event logistics and background support required to run an event of this scale, including the Event Management Plan, Safeguarding and EDI Policies, Public Liability Insurance, Security, Risk Assessments, Health and Safety, First Aid, and other operational requirements.

Visitors can enjoy:

• State exhibitions
• Indian food village
• India Bazaar
• Cultural performances
• Fashion show
• Children's activities
• Community awards
• Family Picnic and Family Day Out
• Workshops

• India is a remarkably diverse country with different official languages, traditions, food, clothing, music, dance, art, architecture, and cultural heritage, a very similar situation to mainland Europe.
• One of the important objectives of the State Pavilions is education. Many children from Indian families who are born and brought up in Cambridge and across the UK often have limited opportunities to learn about the wider diversity of India beyond their family's home state or the places where their grandparents live.
• The State Pavilions provide an opportunity for them to discover the history, geography, languages, festivals, food, clothing, and cultural heritage of other parts of India. In this way, they can gain a broader understanding of the country from which their families originate.
• The exhibitions also benefit local British residents who may never have visited India, offering them a unique opportunity to explore India's diverse cultures without travelling thousands of miles. The same applies to the international and global communities living in Cambridge, many of whom are keen to learn more about India and its people.
• Through these exhibitions, Cambridge India Day becomes not only a cultural celebration but also an educational experience, helping to build understanding, appreciation, and connections between communities.

Community members of a State can organise a pavilion representing their state through displays, costumes, arts, crafts, food, tourism, and cultural activities.

The name of the Pavilion has to be named after the State of India, for example Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Odisha, and not by the name of any local communities.

Yes. Collaboration is encouraged in Cambridge India Day.

For example: Five different community groups of a particular state can represent their state together.

Yes. Cambridge India Day is designed for all ages and includes activities for children, young people, adults, and seniors.

Absolutely. Everyone is welcome regardless of nationality, ethnicity, faith, or background.

One of the important objectives of the State Pavilions is education and knowledge for those who haven't visited India.

Yes. A wide range of vegetarian and vegan options will be available.

Yes. Visitors can enjoy food from different regions of India.

Most traders will accept card payments, but carrying some cash is recommended.

Dogs are welcome at Jesus Green, but owners are responsible for their pets at all times.

Yes. Jesus Green is accessible, and we aim to make the event inclusive for everyone.

Yes. Professional security staff will be present throughout the event, including overnight security.

Yes. Dance schools, music groups, cultural organisations, and the state representative performers are welcome to perform.

No. Participation is free, subject to stage slot availability.

Performance times vary depending on the type of programme:

• State Associations are allocated up to 10 minutes each to showcase their state's culture, music, dance, traditions, or heritage.
• Professional dance schools and music schools are allocated between 15 and 30 minutes.

The final schedule is determined by the Cultural Committee to ensure that all State groups and the schools have a fair opportunity to perform while maintaining a varied and engaging programme throughout the event.

The India Bazaar features businesses selling clothing, jewellery, arts and crafts, books, gifts, home décor, and other products. Book a stall here.

Yes. Food businesses are welcome to apply.

Yes. Businesses, charities, community groups, and artisans are welcome. Apply for an India Bazaar stall.

We have plenty of space in Jesus Green in 2026.

Sponsors gain visibility among thousands of visitors while supporting one of Cambridgeshire's largest celebrations of Indian culture.

Patron, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Platinum, and Title Sponsorship packages are available. See the sponsorship section.

Yes. Sponsorship opportunities include:

• Children's Zone
• Fashion Show
• Community Awards
• Main Stage
• State Exhibitions
• Cultural Performances

Yes. Anyone can volunteer. Volunteers are essential to the success of Cambridge India Day.

• Event setup
• Stewarding
• Information desk
• Children's activities
• Photography
• Stage support
• Clean-up and pack-down

Yes. Briefings and guidance will be provided before the event.

Email: cambridgeindiaday@gmail.com
Phone / WhatsApp: 07852 753216