UC3M India Week
September 28 through October 2, 2026
From September 28 to October 2, 2026, Carlos III University of Madrid opens the pages of a travel journal dedicated to India: a journey through its music, dance, languages, flavors, ideas, and major contemporary conversations.
The UC3M India Week, jointly organized by the Offices of the Vice Rectors for Communication, Culture, and Transparency and for Internationalization, invites the university community, the general public, and—in particular—the residents of Getafe, Leganés, and Colmenarejo , as well as all citizens of Madrid, to explore a diverse, pluralistic, and dynamic India.
The journey begins with a preliminary presentation at Casa Asia and then unfolds across the campuses in Getafe, Leganés, Puerta de Toledo,and Colmenarejo, with a program that combines tradition and modernity: fromKathak, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, and Kalaripayattu to the dialogue between Tagore and Lorca; from live music featuring the tabla, sarangi, and classical Hindustani singing to workshopson Bollywood and Bhangra, yoga, Indian cuisine, and Indian fashion.
Each activity serves as a stop along this journey: an invitation to listen to different rhythms, learn new words, taste different flavors, and reflect on India through its many cultural, academic, and social dimensions. Literature, geopolitics, philosophy and religion, international mobility, economics, business, tourism, technology, and artificial intelligence also create opportunities for dialogue, allowing us to examine India through the lens of public universities and current debates.
In collaboration with the Indian Embassy, Casa de la India, and Casa Asia, the city councils of Getafe and Leganés, and the Carlos III University Foundation, the Week offers a shared journey through knowledge, creativity, civic engagement, and community: an invitation to discover India as a living land, both ancient and contemporary at the same time.
Program of Activities
Presentation of UC3M’s India Week
“Five Centuries of Dialogue: From Akbar’s Court to the Spain-India Dual Year 2026”
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Duration: Approximately 75 minutes
Location: Casa Asia. Palacio de Cañete, 69 Mayor St. 28013 Madrid
Admission: Free admission until capacity is reached
Organized by: Carlos III University of Madrid
In collaboration with: Casa Asia, Casa de la India, and the Indian Embassy in Spain
Language: Spanish
Carlos III University of Madrid presents UC3M India Week at Casa Asia, a program organized by the university in collaboration with cultural and diplomatic institutions linked to India, and curated by Michele Curnis and Manuel Hidalgo, associate vice-rectors for Culture and Internationalization, respectively.
The event will take place on Thursday, September 24, at 6:00 p.m., at Casa Asia, with free admission until capacity is reached.
The presentation will feature institutional representatives from Carlos III University of Madrid, Casa Asia, Casa de la India, and the Indian Embassy in Spain —the latter’s participation is pending confirmation. Following the institutional opening remarks, Carmen Bedoya, Program Coordinator at Casa Asia, will deliver the lecture “Five Centuries of Dialogue: From Akbar’s Court to the Spain-India Dual Year 2026.”
The session will serve as a public introduction to UC3M India Week and will provide context for the program within the long history of cultural, intellectual, and diplomatic relations between Spain and India, with a special focus on the Spain-India Dual Year 2026.
Roots That Migrate, Rhythms That Return
Kathak dance, flamenco, and poetry between India and Spain
Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Location: Plaza de la Cultura, in front of the Federico García Lorca Theater. Getafe
Format: street performance
Access: free
In collaboration with: Getafe City Council
As part of the UC3M India Week, the Shreyashee Nag Dance Company presents “Migrating Roots, Returning Rhythms”, a street performance that will take place on Friday, September 25, at 9:30 p.m., at the Plaza de la Cultura in Getafe, in front of the Federico García Lorca Theater.
The event is part of the QK Fest (Street Culture Festival) program and is organized in collaboration with the Getafe City Council, which is joining UC3M’s India Week by inviting the city’s residents to actively participate in this cultural program.
Inspired by the works of Rabindranath Tagore and Federico García Lorca, this piece explores an encounter between East and West through dance, rhythm, and memory. The work evokes an emotional journey and pays tribute to those who have left their homeland behind, carrying with them a longing for home, the memory of their roots, and the search for new places where they can belong.
Things to Do in Getafe
Things to Do in Leganés
→ Mini-workshop on traditional Indian cuisine, colors, and spices
Schedule: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Kitchen of the Auditorium cafeteria. Leganés Campus. Carlos III University of Madrid
Seats: 12
Price: University community: 15 euros / General public: 25 euros
This micro-workshop offers a practical and hands-on introduction to traditional Indian cuisine led by Anamika Das, an Indian cooking instructor. Through preparing and tasting various recipes, participants will discover the use of spices, the balance of flavors, the importance of sauces and side dishes, and the sensory richness of a cuisine characterized by its aromas, colors, and textures.
More information and registration
Things to Do in Puerta de Toledo
→ Conference: “The Origin and Development of the Hindi Language.” (From Sanskrit to Hindi)
Schedule: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Room -1.A01, Madrid Campus – Puerta de Toledo, Carlos III University of Madrid
Language: English
Admission: Free admission until capacity is reached
The lecture will be given by Jyoti Sharma, full professor of Hindi at the ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) Chair at the University of Valladolid. This event is organized in collaboration with Casa de la India and the ICCR.
More information
→ Kathakali: Puthanam Moksham
Schedule: 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Auditorium. Madrid Campus – Puerta de Toledo. Carlos III University of Madrid
Admission: Free admission until capacity is reached
The company Margi Kathakali presents Puthanam Moksham, one of the most frequently performed plays by the Kathakali, a traditional form of dance theater originating in the state of Kerala, in southern India. The event is held in collaboration with House of India.
More information
During UC3M India Week, the program will also extend to other areas of campus life. Thanks to the collaboration of the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Carlos III University Foundation, the campus cafeterias and student residence halls will feature a selection of traditional Indian dishes.
In addition, in collaboration with the campus libraries, a representative selection of Indian books and films, designed for those who wish to continue exploring India’s culture, history, thought, and contemporary creativity.
More information
- Office of the Vice President for Communication, Culture, and Transparency
- Office of the Vice President for Internationalization
- Embassy of India, Madrid, Spain
- Casa de la India Foundation.
- Casa Asia
- Carlos III University Foundation
- Getafe City Council
- Leganés City Council
- Carlos III University of Madrid
→ Getafe Campus
→ Leganés Campus
→ Colmenarejo Campus
→ Madrid Campus – Puerta de Toledo - Palmira Pla Auditorium. Gregorio Peces-Barba University Residence Hall in Getafe. Av. de Federica Montseny 1, 28903 Getafe, Madrid
- Casa Asia. Palacio de Cañete, Calle Mayor 69, Centro, 28013 Madrid
If you are a member of the UC3M student body, you can attend many of the activities during UC3M India Week can count toward your Activities Passport, which allows students to earn 1 elective credit.
To be eligible to apply for this recognition, you must have accumulated 20 hours of participation throughout the academic year 2026–2027, by participating in activities from the available catalog. All information regarding how the Activity Passport works, the requirements, and the procedure for applying for credit can be found on the Activities Passport page.
Remember that you must register in advance for any activities you want to count toward the passport. Once you’ve registered, on the day of the activity, you’ll need to go to the person at the entrance to the room to sign in. Afterward, you’ll receive a certificate of participation via email, which is required to request the credit.
You can register for the UC3M India Week activities through:
Cultural Passport Registration
Section: On Campus / Other Activities
UC3M India Week Activities with Credit Recognition
Monday, September 28,
→ Workshop on Indian performing arts: Kathakali, Kalaripayattu, and Bharatanatyam.
Tuesday, September 29,
→ Panel 1. Humanities and Literature.
→ Table 2A. KA171 / 4U Alliance: mobility.
→ Table 2B. KA171 / Alianza 4U: Implications for Research.
→ Micro-workshop on traditional Indian cuisine, colors, and spices.
→ Lecture: “From Sanskrit to Hindi.”
→ Kathakali: Puthanam Moksham and discussion.
Wednesday, September 30,
→ Panel 3: Geopolitics.
→ Bharatanatyam dance performance and workshop with Karunya Srinivasan.
→ Panel 4. Thought and Religion.
Thursday, October 1
→ Panel 5. Economy, Business, and Tourism.
→ Film at the Federico García Lorca Theater: a lecture by Bina Paul and a film screening.
→ Yoga Masterclass, with Apeksha Bajaj.
Friday, October 2
→ Debate Session: Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.
→ Panel 6. Technology Made in India and Artificial Intelligence.
→ Panel 7. Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.
→ Bollywood and Bhangra Workshop.
→ Bharatanatyam dance performance, featuring Mónica de la Fuente.
