The ‘Hala Diwali’ cultural extravaganza organized recently by the Indian Embassy in Kuwait, in collaboration with members of the Indian Community, was a tribute to the long and friendly relations between India and Kuwait, which has withstood the test of time.
The successful cultural event, held at the Indian Embassy Auditorium on 22 October, commemorated the colorful Indian festival of Diwali while also honoring the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the global icon of peace.
The Assistant Foreign Minister for the Cabinet of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Nasser Mohamad A. Al-Sabah, attended the event as the chief guest. Marveling at the cultural display presented by some of the most talented Indian artists was a large gathering of distinguished guests, Kuwaiti officials from various ministries and government departments, Kuwaitis hailing from the business and academic fraternities, members of the diplomatic corps, and several representatives of the Indian Community in Kuwait.
Speaking about the event, the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait H.E. K. Jeeva Sagar remarked: “Hala Diwali was not just an Indian music and dance show but also a tribute to the broad humanitarian vision of Mahatma Gandhi in the 150 year of his birth, and a celebration of the enduring friendship between India and Kuwait. The event was also a showcase for the colors of peace and prosperity of Diwali.” He hoped that the colorful cultural presentation would further deepen and strengthen people-to-people bonds between the two countries.
In his remarks to the media, Ambassador Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Sabah lauded the deep rooted historical relationship between Kuwait and India, as well as the deep social bonds between the two friendly people. Extending his greetings to the Indian community residing in Kuwait, the ambassador appreciated their significant contributions to the development of various sectors of the country.
He further highlighted the historical ties and emphasized the deep-rooted Indian heritage that still exists in Kuwaiti culture adding that there was some part of Indian heritage in almost every Kuwaiti house. He voiced his pride on the level of cohesion and friendship that clearly demonstrated the strength of the strong relations between the friendly people of Kuwait and India.
After the traditional lighting of the lamp, the musical troupe who flew in all the way from Mumbai just for the event, enthralled a packed auditorium with a scintillating music and dance performance. In perfect synchronization the dancers showcased several regions of India that left the audience spellbound with their display of rhythm and color. The entire dance performance was choreographed by Divya Pai, an esteemed name in the classical dance field of Bharatanatyam. She has also trained in other dance forms including salsa, jazz, and belly dancing among others.
Famous and popular songs were sung by the very talented duo of Nelima Gokhale and Sagar Sawant. The evening also witnessed Kuwaiti singer Mubarak Al-Rashid singing the popular Hindi-Arabic number, “Tum Pyaar Sadeeq Ho” (You are my dear friend). The meticulously conducted evening ended on a high note with the Oscar-Award winning Indian song, Jai Ho.
Neelima Gokhale has performed in various arenas in India and abroad, with a repertoire that boasts performances with veteran music composers like Ravi Saheb and Khayyam Saheb. Sagar Sawarkar’s rich vocals are recognized for their vibrancy and versatility, earning him an amazing career with Walt Disney Productions for almost 10 years as a Singer and Voice Over artist.
The highlight of the evening was a beautiful rendition of a song by the Indian ambassador, which had both the Kuwaiti and Indian audiences awestruck by his mellifluous voice. It gave the evening a strong personal touch, which was a fitting end to an event that highlighted the strong cultural bonds between the two nations. Guests were treated to a sumptuous buffet from Mughal Mahal to conclude a fabulous Indian experience.
The organizers expressed their deep gratitude to all the supporters and well-wishers of the event who contributed to making the function a grand success. Hala Diwali, which was organized as a sincere endeavor to thank Kuwait for hosting and extending tremendous goodwill to the entire Indian Community living in the country, was a great opportunity to share and strengthen the bonds of friendship between India and Kuwait.
Staff Report
