Wednesday 22 / October / 2025
Muscat: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will begin his Oman visit on Thursday as part of his wider Gulf tour, officials confirmed.
In Muscat, Vijayan will inaugurate the Indian Community Festival (ICF) at Al Amerat Park on Friday at 6 p.m.
The following day, he is scheduled to meet migrant workers in Salalah.
Vijayan’s trip marks the first visit by a Kerala Chief Minister to the Sultanate in 26 years — the last being by the late E.K. Nayanar in 1999.
Several prominent figures from Oman’s official and business circles are expected to attend the ICF inauguration, including Lulu Group Chairman M.A. Yusuff Ali, Gulf Engineering Founder and Chairman Dr. P. Muhammed Ali, among others.
Organised by the Kerala Wing of the Indian Social Club Oman, the much-anticipated festival celebrates India’s cultural diversity and heritage.
The event will bring together around 700 artists — both expatriates and locals — to perform traditional Omani dance forms alongside a variety of Indian art forms from different linguistic regions.
This year’s theme, “Be Humane, Let Peace Prevail,” underscores the message of global harmony and coexistence.
Prominent personalities from Kerala and Oman will attend as special guests, while a highlight of the festival will be a live concert by Kanal, a popular music band from Kerala.
Entry to the three-day festival, which will also feature a science exhibition, is free of charge.
During his stay in Muscat, Vijayan will meet with business leaders to explore partnerships in investment, education, healthcare, and technology.
Officials said that the visit reflects Kerala’s gratitude toward its global diaspora and its commitment to building stronger international collaborations.
Oman, home to thousands of Keralites, continues to play a vital role in Kerala’s economic and cultural landscape. Vijayan’s visit is expected to further strengthen Kerala’s engagement with the Gulf region and deepen people-to-people connections.
