At the WAVES Summit 2025, Nita Ambani, founder and chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, reinforced the global relevance of Indian culture and announced a major international initiative by the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC). She shared that the cultural centre will host a “grand Indian weekend” this September at the iconic Lincoln Centre in New York. “We will spotlight the soul of India in all its glory—our arts and artisans, our weaves and weavers, our songs and dances, and our fashion and food,” she said.

Speaking on the theme ‘Taking India to the World’, she said this cultural exchange was not a new idea, but a continuation of India’s long legacy of global influence.

“Long before the birth of the internet or even cinema, the influence of Indian culture had already spread across the globe,” Ambani said. She pointed to centuries-old connections—from Buddhist monks journeying to India for knowledge, to Indian deities still worshipped across Southeast Asia, and Indian architecture visible in Angkor Wat and Borobudur—as evidence that “taking India to the world is not a new concept or a new idea.”

Launched in 2023, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai has aimed to bring Indian traditions to a contemporary global audience. Ambani explained, “Our vision is to showcase the best of India to the world and bring the best of the world to India.” Under this vision, initiatives like Swadesh were also launched to support and promote traditional Indian crafts and artisans internationally.

She emphasised that Indian culture is not a static relic, but a living, breathing force. “In most parts of the world, culture is something to be preserved. But in India, it is something we live every day,” Ambani said. “Here, the modern does not compete with the ancient—it coexists in perfect harmony.”

The Lincoln Centre event, she said, would be part of a broader movement to place India’s cultural heritage at the heart of global dialogue. “We stand at a moment unlike any before. A moment where Indian culture can shine on the world stage not just in fragments but in its full granularity.”

As she concluded, Ambani called on creators and artists to act as custodians of India’s evolving narrative. “You are not just telling the story. You are the story,” she emphasised.