Diwali lights up Taipei, strengthening Indian and Taiwan relations

Bright lights warmed the hearts of people in Taipei on Friday as Taiwan's Indian community celebrated the festival of Diwali, which symbolizes new beginnings, the victory of good over evil, and light over darkness, further strengthening the bonds between the two countries.

Diwali, also known as "The Festival of Lights," is one of the major festivals celebrated by Indian communities around the world, when millions light up their homes and streets to celebrate the victory of good over evil with family reunions, food and prayers.

The celebration, held at the American Club Taipei, saw Indians and Taiwanese light a large lamp and offer small electronic lights to Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu God, before Indian singers and dancers took to the stage.

Priya Lalwani Purswaney, one of the organizers and founder of Indians in Taiwan (IiT), told CNA that the Diwali celebration in Taiwan began in 2020 and was promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for the Indian community in Taiwan, many of whom have found it difficult to meet with family because of the pandemic.

"For the Indian diaspora, Taiwan is our second home, and celebrating Diwali here with our Indian and Taiwanese friends has made our bond stronger," said Purswaney, who was the first Indian university student in Taiwan when she arrived in 1987.

People are at the core of India-Taiwan relations and the Indian diaspora have been attempting to improve relations, said Sana Hashmi, an Indian national and a visiting fellow at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, adding that there is growing bonhomie between the two countries.

Indian national Jaya Asmi, an international primary school teacher who has lived in Taiwan for 21 years, said she enjoys sharing her culture with Taiwanese.

"It's always nice to meet people from other cultures and share parts of our culture, it feels great," she said.

Such cheerful friendliness is leading to greater awareness between India and Taiwan, Purswaney said.

"It was natural for us to organize this event to promote India-Taiwan cultural ties, and we will continue to do so," Purswaney said.

Hopefully, the Diwali celebrations will allow Taiwanese guests to learn more about India, Hashmi said.

"There is much more to India than Aamir Khan (a Bollywood actor) and curries, and it is our responsibility and cause to show our Taiwanese guests and friends the real India," Hashmi said.

Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang (???), who attended the celebrations, said in a speech that everyone is very fortunate to be able to celebrate the auspicious festival together.

"Brightness over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance, but I have to add one more thing and that is togetherness over COVID-19," Tien said.

This was the second time IiT and the Taipei-India Music and Culture Center organized Diwali, in collaboration with the MOFA, the inaugural event being held at Taipei Guest House last year.

The affluent and close-knit Indian community has resided in Taiwan for around four decades and currently numbers over 4,500, made up of entrepreneurs, restaurant owners, scientists, artists, scholars, lawyers, corporate leaders, engineers and students, according to Purswaney.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel