Kazakhstan’s traditional crafts showcased at BRICS Bazaar 2026 in New Delhi
Traditional Kazakh crafts take center stage at the BRICS Bazaar 2026 in New Delhi, featuring mixed-media artworks by artist Togzhan Babieva.
Traditional Kazakh decorative and applied arts have taken center stage at the BRICS Bazaar 2026 in New Delhi, offering international delegates and visitors a vivid window into Central Asian heritage as global leaders gather for high-level diplomatic talks. According to reporting from Qazinform, the cultural exhibition runs concurrently with wider international engagements, drawing artisans and creative minds from across the BRICS community to showcase contemporary craft and historical traditions.
The cultural showcase forms a vibrant backdrop to the 18th BRICS Summit. While world leaders discuss overarching themes of resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability under India's 2026 chairship, the bazaar itself places traditional craftsmanship front and center. As detailed by News.webindia123, the exhibition features a massive contingent of country panels representing member and partner nations alike, ranging from founding states to newly integrated participants.
Media additions
Kazakhstan's artistic contribution to the exhibition is spearheaded by Togzhan Babieva, an artist from Uralsk specializing in decorative and applied arts. Her display includes intricate wall-relief panels, decorative talismans, felt furnishings, and mixed-media artworks designed to convey the core motifs of Kazakh culture, including family, unity, and generational continuity. Speaking to Qazinform, Babieva explained that her works are deeply rooted in everyday life and national mentality, utilizing traditional ornaments and symbolic forms such as the tumar — a traditional Kazakh amulet — to communicate messages of heritage and domestic harmony.
"Since I work in mixed media, I brought paintings that show our way of life, as well as works that speak about our mentality,"
Togzhan Babieva, artist, via Qazinform
Among her showcased pieces is a newly created work titled The Power of the Earth, crafted specifically for the New Delhi exhibition to reflect the broader ethos of peace and international cooperation. The composition interweaves cultural symbols from different regions, pairing the image of a sacred cow representing India with a mountain-dwelling bull symbolizing strength. The mountain itself is embellished with distinct Kazakh symbols to forge an immediate visual dialogue between the two nations, while a small bird perched in the scene serves as an emblem of happiness, shared dreams, and the delicate nature of peace.
The exhibition has also attracted high-profile diplomatic attention beyond the negotiating tables. According to News.webindia123, Zahra Pezeshkian, daughter of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, toured the bazaar to explore the various textile and craft installations. Footage shared by the official Iranian Embassy in India highlighted her visits to regional showcases, including the Iranian panel. Union Minister of Women and Child Development and Kodarma Lok Sabha MP Annapurna Devi welcomed her to the venue, guiding her through the extensive exhibits that celebrate the textile heritages of participating countries.
Annapurna Devi marked the occasion by welcoming the delegation, stating via News.webindia123:
"It was a pleasure to welcome Ms Zahra Pezeshkian, daughter of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, to the #BRICSBazaar at the National Crafts Museum, New Delhi."
Annapurna Devi, Union Minister of Women and Child Development and Kodarma Lok Sabha MP, via News.webindia123
She added:
"Had the opportunity to show them around the Bazaar and share the rich traditions, art, crafts and cultural heritage showcased by BRICS member and partner nations."
Annapurna Devi, Union Minister of Women and Child Development and Kodarma Lok Sabha MP, via News.webindia123
Earlier diplomatic engagements between Kazakhstan and India also underscored the strong ties connecting the nations. According to Qazinform, Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yerzhan Ashikbayev and Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan Sailas Thangal reaffirmed their mutual commitment to deepening their strategic partnership during a prior meeting.
| Event / Installation | Location | Dates | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRICS Bazaar 2026 | National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy, New Delhi | September 10–15, 2026 | Traditional craftsmanship, textiles, and cultural heritage from member and partner nations |
| 18th BRICS Summit | Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi | September 12–13, 2026 | Resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability under India's chairship |
Organized jointly by India's Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Textiles under the thematic banner Crafting Cultures, Connecting People, the bazaar features a diverse array of textile traditions. Visitors can observe woven stripes, ikat motifs, brocade, jacquard work, and printed and dyed cotton and silk textiles spanning dozens of national delegations, including Iran, India, China, Brazil, Bolivia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Cuba, Belarus, Malaysia, Nigeria, Uganda, and Vietnam.
With global leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the summit and its cultural appendages continue to draw intense public interest. The BRICS Bazaar remains open to visitors at the National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy through September 15, 2026, offering daily viewings from 10 am to 6 pm before concluding its week-long celebration of international folk art and shared creative initiatives.
