Indian embassy celebrates World Hindi Day
THE TIMES KUWAIT REPORT
World Hindi Day was marked at the Indian Embassy auditorium on 10 January with a variety of cultural programs in Hindi. Students and teachers from Indian schools provided an impressive set of performances, including by reciting poems, songs and dances to the delight of the packed embassy auditorium.
Indian Ambassador H.E. Dr. Adarsh Swaika read out the prime minister’s message in Hindi which highlighted the significance of World Hindi Day and the Hindi language. In his address to the gathering A\mbassador Swaika pointed out that World Hindi Day was not just a celebration of a language, but a tribute to the diverse linguistic traditions of the country, and the unifying role that the Indian language plays in connecting millions of Indians around the world.
He added that the Day provided an opportunity to promote the language and encourage its use in various fields, and to reflect on its historical importance in promoting a sense of national identity and to cherish the language.
He went on to state, “Let us celebrate on this day, the beauty of the Indian language, its profound impact on literature, culture and art, and pledge to preserve its legacy for future generations.”
Indian school students enthusiastically participated in the activities such as by recitation of Hindi poetry, novels and stories inspired by Indian literature and Hindi grammar, as well as rendering impressive dance performances.
The event was also notable for the Kuwaiti participation in the celebrations, with several Kuwaiti nationals being honored by the ambassador for their participation in an open social media competition held specifically for Kuwaiti citizens who spoke the language.
Kuwaiti singer Mubarak Al-Azmi, known among the Indian community for his love of Indian music and culture, ignited the enthusiasm of the audience when he sang the timeless Indian national song “Mere Desh Ki Dharti”, and some of them participated in singing with him. Two Kuwaiti citizens spoke fluently in Hindi on the stage, and shared with the audience laughter and applause with them.
Another Kuwaiti citizen who attended the ceremony said: “I always had a desire to go to India, so I started listening to the Indian language at night and learned it, I also learned to wear Indian clothes and everything related to India that I carry in my heart, and I always want to go to India during the holidays.”
She added: “India is different, with its weather, people and food, so I love it very much and always want to visit it, I have a lot of Indian friends, they are honest and their hearts are good, they are also very nice.”
Director of the ‘New Gulf Indian School’, Anoop Sharma, spoke on alphabets and their use in the Hindi language, highlighting the rich linguistic heritage of Hindi.
Members of Radio Kuwait which recently began a Hindi language broadcast were also felicitated by the Indian ambassador for popularizing the language.
