Nagpur, November 1, 2026

The National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT), Nagpur, organised Anubhuti 2026, its cultural and literary festival, after a gap of six years. Based on the theme Navrasa, the four-day festival brought together the 79th Batch of Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) Officer Trainees, senior officers and eminent personalities from the fields of art, cinema, literature, culture and music.

The festival was inaugurated in the presence of Shri Satpal Gulati, Director General, NADT, and senior officers. The programme featured performances based on the Navrasa tradition, Kathak, regional cultural showcases and Manganiyar folk music. Workshops on Warli painting, doodling and mocktail-making provided opportunities for creative engagement. The West Zone cultural programme showcased regional traditions and cuisine, with Shri Vishwas Nagre Patil, Commissioner of Police, Nagpur, attending as Guest of Honour.

The second day celebrated Eastern India’s cultural heritage through music, dance, theatre, regional cuisine and interactive activities. Shri Upinder Singh, Principal Executive Director (Safety), Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, and Shri Vinayak Garg, Divisional Railway Manager, Nagpur Division, attended the East Zone cultural programme as Chief Guests. A major highlight was Runway and Rhythm, organised in collaboration with SVK Sansthan, featuring children with intellectual disabilities and celebrating inclusion and self-expression. The day also featured Nrityarupa: A Mosaic of Indian Dance, presented by Kathak Kendra, a constituent unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi under the Ministry of Culture, showcasing forms including Kathakali, Kathak and Chhau.

The third day featured workshops and interactive sessions on photography, dance, cinema and literature. Photographer and wildlife storyteller Varun Thakkar conducted a photography workshop, while National Award-winning actor Vikrant Massey interacted with the Officer Trainees on his creative journey and personal experiences. Author and screenwriter Divya Prakash Dubey shared insights into storytelling and writing. A Kavi Sammelan featuring poetry in Malayalam, Hindi, Rekhta and English provided a platform for literary expression.

The concluding day featured The Great Anubhuti Debate, an interaction with Padma Shri awardee and sand artist Shri Sudarsan Pattnaik, and activities promoting humour and creative participation. A book discussion brought together three IRS officers who have pursued writing alongside their professional careers. Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, discussed her ecological thriller Corals Bloom Again; Shri Prasenjit Singh, former Member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, presented Syntax of Tax; and Ms. Ritu Sharma, Joint Secretary, Department of Health, discussed Shakti: A Spiritual Journey Through the Goddesses.

The four-day festival concluded with a musical performance by Neeraj Shridhar.

Anubhuti 2026 provided a platform for Officer Trainees to engage with India’s diverse cultural traditions and explore creative expression beyond the classroom. The festival reflected NADT’s commitment to the holistic development of IRS (Income Tax) Officer Trainees, complementing professional training with an appreciation of art, literature and cultural heritage.

***

Saurabh Khekde/Parshuram Kor

Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai    /PIBMumbai    /pibmumbai  pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com  /PIBMumbai    /pibmumbai

(रिलीज़ आईडी: 2331298) आगंतुक पटल : 139