President Murmu attends Purple Fest 2025 at Rashtrapati Bhavan

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Purple Fest 2025 held at the Amrit Udyan in the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on 21st March 2025. Last year also the Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted the Purple Fest 2024.

The Purple Fest celebrates the talents, achievements, and aspirations of persons with disabilities (PwDs) also known as Divyangjan in India.

The first Purple Fest in the country was organised in Panjim, Goa in January 2023

Who organised the Purple Fest 2025?

The Purple Fest has been organised by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in association with the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Purple Fest is emerging as another flagship programme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the Divyangjans in India.  

Since 2022, the Ministry regularly organises the Divya Kala mela to showcase the talent, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of Divyang artisans, entrepreneurs, and artists from across the country and provide them with a platform to sell their products.

The Purple Fest focuses on the cultural and sports achievements of the Divyangs.

Highlights of the Purple Fest 2025

The Purple Fest 2025 focused on showcasing the cultural, sports, and other artistic skills of the Divyangs and students from special and inclusive schools that incorporate disability-friendly infrastructure and pedagogy.

The following programmes were held as part of the Purple Fest 2025 at the Amrit Udyan.

Purple Fun Zone - Disability rights organisation hosted games for the Divyangs.

Purple Cafe - It offered foods prepared by chefs with disabilities. 

Purple Kaleidoscope- It showcased art created by artists with disabilities. The gallery showcased accessible paintings and photographs that have audio and tactile descriptions and braille signs.

Purple Live Experience Zone - The Zone offered games, dance workshops, and cultural performances by Divyang artists.

Purple Sports - The Divyang sports person participated in sports activities like wheelchair basketball, and blind football.

Abilympics, or Olympics of Abilities-  It brought together top  Divyang talent from across the country in 12 vocations, showcasing their professional skills. 

Purple Books, Movies and Canvas event gave the aspiring Divyangs writers, directors, and photographers the chance to meet professionals in their fields.

Why is the Fest called Purple Fest?

Around the world the Purple colour is increasingly being associated with the disability advocacy movement just like green is associated with the environment, pink with the LGBT community, and red with labour movements.

The purple colour is associated with dignity, respect, and empowerment and conveys a sense of unity and solidarity.

The colour has become a symbol to individuals and organisations to show their commitment to promoting inclusivity and equality for disabled people. It also symbolically serves as a reminder to society about the importance of recognising and acknowledging the contributions of the disabled community.

Also Read:

Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Durbar Hall & Ashoka Hall renamed and Indianised