In the lead-up to Orthodox Easter, celebrated on 12 April in 2026, the Ukrainian community in India, with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in India, organised a series of events dedicated to preserving Ukrainian traditions and sharing them with Indian friends.

On Palm Sunday, 5 April, observed this year according to the Orthodox Christian calendar, members of the Ukrainian community in New Delhi came together for a pysanka-decorating workshop ahead of Easter. Organised by Maryna Akram and led by Nataliia Okseniuk with the support of Anastasia and Valeria, the gathering became a warm expression of continuity, community spirit and connection to Ukrainian heritage.

Pysanka is a traditional Ukrainian Easter egg, decorated with symbolic ornaments, colours and motifs passed down from generation to generation. In different regions of Ukraine, pysanky have their own distinctive patterns and meanings, reflecting local traditions, beliefs and folk art. More than just decoration, they are a cherished part of Ukraine’s cultural heritage and a symbol of life, renewal and hope.

The following Friday, on 10 April, the Ukrainian community in India, with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in India, brought this tradition to Indian children through a special pysanka workshop for students of Father Agnel School in Delhi, organised as part of the Bridges of Empathy project. For more than two years, this initiative has helped Indian children discover Ukrainian traditions, culture and values, contributing to the development of people-to-people ties from an early age.

On that occasion, Tetiana Sharma, Third Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine in India, presented Father Agnel School with a special Easter rabbit painted in the Petrykivka style. Petrykivka decorative painting, a traditional Ukrainian ornamental art form, is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The souvenir piece was specially created for the occasion by Olga Syrovatko.

The Embassy of Ukraine in India sincerely thanks the Ukrainian community in India for cherishing, preserving and promoting Ukrainian traditions in India, and for sharing Ukrainian culture with warmth, creativity and dedication. Such initiatives help bring the peoples of Ukraine and India closer together and build lasting people-to-people connections from childhood.

The Embassy also expresses its gratitude to Father Agnel School for its interest in Ukrainian culture and support for this meaningful cultural exchange.

Special thanks go to Maryna Akram, Nataliia Okseniuk, Olga Syrovatko, Tetiana Stetsenko and Valeria Teriokhina for their dedication and commitment.