International Delegation
International Delegation Visit: Russian Federation
Date: February 2, 2026
Venue: Vinayaka Mission’s Chennai Campus (VMCC)
Organized By: School of Arts & Science (SAS)
Executive Summary
On February 2, 2026, Vinayaka Mission’s Chennai Campus (VMCC) reached a significant milestone in international heritage education by hosting a 30-member delegation from the Russian Federation. This visit served as the first major initiative following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on December 15, 2025, between Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (VMRF-DU) and the Vastu Vedic Trust.
Leadership and Guidance
The program was a realization of the vision set by Dr. A. Shanmugasundaram (Founder, VMRF-DU). Under the guidance of Dr. A. S. Ganesan (Chancellor, VMRF-DU) and Dr. Anuradha Ganesan (Vice President, VMRF-DU), the event was curated to showcase the depth of Tamil Nadu’s architectural and living traditions to a global audience.
Program Itinerary & Highlights
1. Traditional Welcome (Virundhombal)
The delegates were received with a traditional Tamil welcome, emphasizing the cultural value of Virundhombal (hospitality). Dr. Christianna Singh, Director of SAS, delivered the welcome address, highlighting how heritage studies can act as a bridge for cross-civilizational understanding.
2. Academic Session: Temple Heritage
The core academic highlight was a presentation on the Temple Heritage Course by Dr. Dakshinamoorthy Sthapati (Professor of Practice, VMRF-DU).
- The scientific and philosophical foundations of Dravidian architecture
- The technical precision of Vastu Shastra in temple construction
3. Cultural Exchange and Performance
The program included a formal felicitation by Advocate Gopinathan Raghavan (Member, Board of Management, VMRF-DU).
To conclude the visit, students of SAS performed a vibrant series of Tamil classical and folk arts, offering the Russian delegates a firsthand experience of Tamil Nadu's performing arts heritage.
Conclusion
The visit successfully transformed the campus into a hub for international dialogue. It provided a tangible expression of the institutional partnership between VMRF-DU and the Vastu Vedic Trust.
This collaboration marks the beginning of VMCC’s journey toward becoming a global center for interdisciplinary heritage scholarship.
Prepared by:
School of Arts & Science (SAS)
Vinayaka Mission’s Chennai Campus (VMCC)
