With the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of India, Ukraine was presented for the first time at the Serendipity Arts Festival, held in Goa.
Ukraine’s programme featured contemporary artistic practice, professional craft, and cuisine, presented by three Ukrainian artists based in India: Olga Syrovatko, Mila Supinskaya, and Chef Julia Danylenko.
Held on 16–17 December, the Petrykivka Mandala painting workshops were conducted by Olga Syrovatko, a Ukrainian artist residing and working in India.
Designed as a space of cultural dialogue, the workshops went beyond a simple introduction to a traditional technique. They invited participants to engage with Ukrainian art in an open, contemporary format, allowing traditions to interact naturally with the festival’s multicultural audience.
Petrykivka painting is a traditional Ukrainian decorative art known for its vibrant floral motifs and distinctive brushwork. In 2013, it was inscribed on #UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognising it as a living tradition passed down through generations.
Designed as a space of cultural dialogue, the workshop brought together two cultural symbols that resonate deeply in both contexts — the #fish. In Goa, fish is closely tied to coastal life and local traditions; in Ukraine, it also holds cultural and symbolic meaning, particularly in folk art and everyday culture.
During the workshop, children embroidered fish-shaped textile pieces with their names written in Ukrainian transliteration, offering them a playful and hands-on introduction to the Ukrainian alphabet. Through embroidery, language, and storytelling, participants discovered Ukrainian culture in an accessible and joyful way.
The session became a warm and engaging experience where art, language, and imagination met, connecting Ukrainian traditions with the festival’s vibrant children’s programme.
On 16 December, participants joined “Palyanytsia: The Soul of Ukrainian Bread” — a hands-on introduction to the traditions and cultural meaning of Ukrainian bread.
On 17 December, the workshop “Ukrainian Borscht: UNESCO Heritage in a Bowl” invited the audience to explore borscht not only as a beloved dish, but as an element of Ukraine’s cultural heritage, shared through taste, stories, and collective experience.
Both sessions were designed as spaces of cultural dialogue, where Ukrainian culinary heritage met the festival’s diverse international audience in a warm and engaging format.
Ukraine’s first-ever participation at Serendipity Arts Festival was warmly received by festival audiences and organisers and marked an important milestone in presenting Ukrainian culture in India.
The Embassy of Ukraine expresses its sincere gratitude to the Serendipity Arts Foundation and to the participating Ukrainian artists for their contribution to Ukraine’s debut at the festival, as well as volunteeres at the Festival.