The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s flagship initiatives, WAVES and the Create in India Challenge (CIC), continue to spotlight India’s rising creative talent, as winners from two challenges, Battle of Bands and Symphony of India, take center stage at the 15th edition of the National Street Food Festival (NSSF), one of Delhi’s esteemed cultural events, celebrating India’s rich culinary landscape. The festival brings together diverse flavors, from regional delicacies to popular street food favorites.

This year, the festival, being held from 12^th to 14^th December, 2025 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi will showcase the rich and diverse talent of the Create in India Challenge - Season 1 winners along with performances by Ace Singer Kailash Kher, Actor Ashish Vidyarthi, Sri Lankan Pop Artist Yohani, lyricist and singer Amitabh S Verma and hip-hop artists MC Square and Kullar G.

The three-day cultural celebration will feature an exciting CIC musical lineup including:

1. Band Shivoham (Battle of Bands) — Members Paddy, Sunny, Ashu and Hitesh will present Sufi melodies and Bollywood classics.

2. Chirag Tomar (Symphony of India) — Will perform popular Bollywood hits, accompanied by percussionist Sahil Verma.

3. Nishu Sharma (Battle of Bands) — Will bring Rajasthani folk music to the stage.

4. Nayan Krishna (Symphony of India) — Will perform flute renditions.

5. A winning band from the Maldives will perform for the first time in India, adding an international dimension to the lineup.

These young artists, nurtured as part of the CIC and WAVES initiative, are making their mark both nationally and globally. The winners of Battle of Bands and Symphony of India have mesmerized audiences with their artistic range at WAVES, Mumbai and further showcased their talent at major WAVES Bazaar Global Outreach Events in Melbourne, the Osaka World Expo, and the Toronto International Film Festival. Their participation in the National Street Food Festival is another important milestone in their creative journey, helping them connect with even wider and more diverse audiences.

Boost to India’s Orange Economy

The initiative is designed to empower artists and enthusiasts to cultivate their creativity, demonstrate it through the WAVES platform and further get national and international outreach opportunities to monetize their talent and creativity, thereby strengthening India’s Orange economy.

About WAVES & Create in India Challenge (CIC)

The Create in India Challenge (CIC) is a vertical under the flagship ‘WAVES’ initiative of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, aimed at identifying, nurturing, curating and showcasing India’s creative talent across various Media and Entertainment domains such as music, film, animation, VFX, gaming, comics, AI, XR and digital media.

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Mahesh Kumar