INDIA SUMMER DAYS

Indian Culture in Karlsruhe

For decades, Karlsruhe has maintained an intensive connection with India: The University of Karlsruhe (now KIT — Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) has numerous Indian scientists in natural sciences and computer science, several German-Indian companies are based in the region, and a vibrant community of Indian origin shapes the city's cultural life. The India Summer Days are the annual cultural highlight of this connection.

Parallel to DAS FEST

DAS FEST is Karlsruhe's largest city festival, a 5-day open-air festival in the Günther-Klotz-Anlage with main stages, live concerts by international pop and rock acts, street food, comedy, and family programs. With over 200,000 visitors, it is one of the largest free city festivals in Germany. The India Summer Days utilize the infrastructure and audience of DAS FEST, forming their own Indian festival area on the grounds — stage, street food stalls, bazaar, yoga area.

Three Days of Indian Program

The program of the India Summer Days comprises three areas:

• Dance & Music: Classical Indian dance performances (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi), contemporary Bollywood performances, classical Indian music (sitar, tabla, vocal music), Bhangra drummers from Punjab.
• Bazaar: Fabrics, saris, jewelry, handicrafts, incense sticks, henna tattoos, astrology and card reading stalls.
• Yoga & Wellness: Morning yoga sessions, meditation, Ayurveda consultations, workshops.

Indian Street Food

An integral part of the festival is authentic Indian street food. Karlsruhe's Indian restaurants and catering providers set up stalls: Chicken Tikka Masala, Vindaloo, vegetarian curries, Dosa (South Indian rice crepes), Samosas, Pakora, Naan, Roti, Lassi (Mango, Rose), Chai tea, Kulfi (Indian ice cream). Vegetarian and vegan options are abundant — Indian cuisine is inherently plant-based.

India Week Karlsruhe

In the lead-up to and around the India Summer Days, "India Week Karlsruhe" takes place with an expanded program: readings by Indian authors (with German translation), screenings of Indian films (often in Karlsruhe's cinemas), concerts, workshops, and exhibitions reflecting German-Indian relations for over a century. Example: the concert "Kein Weg zu weit" on June 22, 2026, in the Stadtkirche.

Karlsruhe as a District City

Karlsruhe is a district city in Baden-Württemberg, seat of the Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Court of Justice, and one of the most important university cities in Southern Germany. The fan-shaped city center around the palace shapes the cityscape, and the Günther-Klotz-Anlage, a large city park in the southwest of the city center, is the central venue for outdoor events — DAS FEST, India Summer Days, and other open-air formats.