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{{Infobox bilateral relations | {{Infobox bilateral relations | ||
| title = India–Lithuania relations | | title = India–Lithuania relations | ||
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India recognized Lithuania (along with the other Baltic States of Latvia and Estonia) on September 7, 1991, after they declared independence from the Soviet Union. Diplomatic relations between India and Lithuania were established on 25 February 1992. | |||
Lithuania opened its Embassy in New Delhi on July 1, 2008, and has three honorary consulates in India, i.e., in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. The Embassy of India in Warsaw was concurrently accredited to Lithuania till March 2023 with an honorary consulate in Vilnius since 2015. | |||
An Indian Embassy was established in Vilnius in March 2023. | |||
==Early history== | |||
India's first contact with Lithuania was through Lithuanian [[Christian mission]]aries who traveled to India in the 16th century. Lithuanian interest in India grew in the 19th century after the similarity between [[Sanskrit]] and [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] was discovered.<ref name="MEA">{{cite web|title=India-Lithuania Relations|url=http://mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/India-Lithuania_Relations.pdf|website=Ministry of External Affairs|access-date=4 May 2016}}</ref> Among the [[languages of Europe]], Lithuanian is grammatically closest to Sanskrit. Lithuanians regard their language to be the oldest living [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European language]].<ref name="MEA"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Incredible Indian-Lithuanian relations|url=http://vilnews.com/2011-04-incredible-indian-lithuanian-relations-2|website=vilnews.com|access-date=4 May 2016}}</ref><ref name = "TOI">{{cite news|title=India must stand true to its promise of an embassy in Vilnius made in 2005: Lithuania foreign minister|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/India-must-stand-true-to-its-promise-of-an-embassy-in-Vilnius-made-in-2005-Lithuania-foreign-minister/articleshow/39358787.cms|website=The Times of India|date=31 July 2014 |access-date=4 May 2016}}</ref> | |||
[[Vydūnas]], known as the [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and [[Sri Aurobindo]] of Lithuania, was interested in [[Indian philosophy]], and created his own philosophical system closely based on the [[Vedanta]]. Vydunas stated that Lithuanian spiritual culture, prior to the introduction of [[Christianity]], shared similarities with [[Hinduism]], including the concept of [[trimūrti]].<ref name="MEA"/> | |||
==Economic relations== | ==Economic relations== | ||
In 2022-23, the bilateral trade between India and Lithuania stood at US$ 471.68 million. India's top export products to Lithuania include: pharmaceutical products, electrical machinery & equipment, fish & other seafood, plastic products and textiles. India's top import products from Lithuania include: Iron & Steel, Misc. chemical products, rubber and articles thereof, animal & vegetable fats and oils, wood products, electrical machinery and equipment, etc. | |||
==Cultural relations== | ==Cultural relations== | ||
There is growing interest in Lithuania for [[Dance in India|Indian dance]] and [[Music of India|music]], [[yoga]], [[ayurveda]], and the works of [[Rabindranath Tagore]].<ref name="MEA"/><ref name = "TOI"/> | There is growing interest in Lithuania for [[Dance in India|Indian dance]] and [[Music of India|music]], [[Bollywood]], [[yoga]], [[ayurveda]], and the works of [[Rabindranath Tagore]].<ref name="MEA"/><ref name = "TOI"/> The [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] (ISKCON) is present in Lithuania. | ||
== Indian diaspora in Lithuania== | == Indian diaspora in Lithuania== | ||
{{unreferencedsect|date=October 2025}} | |||
The Indian community in Lithuania is a small but vibrant and diverse group of people made up of students, professionals, businessmen, and their families. This community has been growing steadily in recent years. There are around 7000 Indians in Lithuania, with a majority of them being students pursuing higher education in Lithuania's universities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latest Migration Yearbook - key statistics |url=https://migracija.lrv.lt/en/news/latest-migration-yearbook-key-statistics/ |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=migracija.lrv.lt |language=lt}}</ref> | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* | * https://www.eoivilnius.gov.in/india-lithuania-relation.php | ||
* [http://www.lithuania-india.com/ Lithuanian-Indian Forum] | * [http://www.lithuania-india.com/ Lithuanian-Indian Forum] | ||
Latest revision as of 06:37, 21 March 2026
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2025) |
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 India |
 Lithuania |
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India recognized Lithuania (along with the other Baltic States of Latvia and Estonia) on September 7, 1991, after they declared independence from the Soviet Union. Diplomatic relations between India and Lithuania were established on 25 February 1992.
Lithuania opened its Embassy in New Delhi on July 1, 2008, and has three honorary consulates in India, i.e., in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. The Embassy of India in Warsaw was concurrently accredited to Lithuania till March 2023 with an honorary consulate in Vilnius since 2015.
An Indian Embassy was established in Vilnius in March 2023.
Early history[edit | edit source]
India's first contact with Lithuania was through Lithuanian Christian missionaries who traveled to India in the 16th century. Lithuanian interest in India grew in the 19th century after the similarity between Sanskrit and Lithuanian was discovered.[1] Among the languages of Europe, Lithuanian is grammatically closest to Sanskrit. Lithuanians regard their language to be the oldest living Indo-European language.[1][2][3]
Vydūnas, known as the Mahatma Gandhi and Sri Aurobindo of Lithuania, was interested in Indian philosophy, and created his own philosophical system closely based on the Vedanta. Vydunas stated that Lithuanian spiritual culture, prior to the introduction of Christianity, shared similarities with Hinduism, including the concept of trimūrti.[1]
Economic relations[edit | edit source]
In 2022-23, the bilateral trade between India and Lithuania stood at US$ 471.68 million. India's top export products to Lithuania include: pharmaceutical products, electrical machinery & equipment, fish & other seafood, plastic products and textiles. India's top import products from Lithuania include: Iron & Steel, Misc. chemical products, rubber and articles thereof, animal & vegetable fats and oils, wood products, electrical machinery and equipment, etc.
Cultural relations[edit | edit source]
There is growing interest in Lithuania for Indian dance and music, Bollywood, yoga, ayurveda, and the works of Rabindranath Tagore.[1][3] The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is present in Lithuania.
Indian diaspora in Lithuania[edit | edit source]
Template:Unreferencedsect The Indian community in Lithuania is a small but vibrant and diverse group of people made up of students, professionals, businessmen, and their families. This community has been growing steadily in recent years. There are around 7000 Indians in Lithuania, with a majority of them being students pursuing higher education in Lithuania's universities.[4]
External links[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "India-Lithuania Relations" (PDF). Ministry of External Affairs. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ↑ "Incredible Indian-Lithuanian relations". vilnews.com. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "India must stand true to its promise of an embassy in Vilnius made in 2005: Lithuania foreign minister". The Times of India. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ↑ "Latest Migration Yearbook - key statistics". migracija.lrv.lt (in lietuvių). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
