The festival of the USSR to be inaugurated on 21 November 1987 is the first return festival to be presented by any country in India. Extremely successful Festivals of India have been held earlier in the United Kingdom in 1982, the United States of America in 1985-86, in France in 1985-86 and the largest in terms of size and scope in the USSR from July 1987. While the Festival of India in the USSR celebrated the 40th annivarsary of India's Independence, the Festival of USSR in India will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Great October Refolution, and is expected to increase the awareness of classical Soviet art and culture in India, as welle as aspects of cntemporary life. About 20 exhibitions, 57 performing groups and several great master artists of the Soviet Union will be visiting 60 cities in India during the course of the year.

The Inaugural Ceremony takes place in New Delhi on 21 November, 1987. Notable among the exhibitions will be one of art objects from the collection of the world famous Museum, the Hermitage, of Leningrad, and another on "India through the eyes of Soviet artists". This exhibition, it is said, will blend the rich colour palette of India and the features inherent in the Soviet national schools of painting. Noatable among the performing arts that will be presented are the Bolshoi Ballet and Orchestra, several folk dance esembles and a Jazz group.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India