For Day Four of ‘12 Days of Milap’, we are looking back at the journey of our much-loved Indika Festival. 

Launched in 2012, Indika Festival is a biennial, city-wide celebration of Indian Arts, Music, Dance & Culture, taking place across the Liverpool City Region. Lovingly curated by Milap, the festival brings the highest quality Indian classical, contemporary and cross-cultural work to wider audiences across the region.

As a multi-arts festival, Indika is very present in the city, offering a vibrant mix of music, dance, spoken word, workshops, food, crafts. For many people in Liverpool, Indika is their very first experience of Indian Arts, and at Milap, we pride ourselves on creating welcoming and immersive cultural experiences that resonate with audiences for years to come.

Over the years, Indika has hosted exceptional performances from both legendary artists and some of the UK’s most exciting emerging talent. The programme is presented across a wide range of iconic Liverpool venues – from larger, well-known stages in the city to more intimate, grassroots spaces in smaller towns in Liverpool City Region.

Milap prides itself on making Indian Arts accessible, and through Indika Festival, continues to connect audiences with the vibrant sounds and compelling stories of India, showcasing their enduring influence on the world stage. The festival has also enabled Milap to build long-term partnerships with venues across the region, strengthening the North West’s reputation as a home for Indian Arts excellence.

Today, Indika stands as Europe’s largest Indian Arts festival, with its latest 2025 edition hosting 18 events across 11 venues over 15 days. Indika continues to change perceptions, placing Indian Arts at the heart of a major UK region.