Indian expatriates, Taiwanese locals, and guests of all nationalities came together at American Club Taipei Friday for a Diwali celebration hosted by the Indians in Taiwan (IiT) group.
The celebrations to mark Diwali, also known as “The Festival of Lights,” saw Indian and Taiwanese officials light a large lamp, while others made offerings to Ganesh before traditional Indian dancers took to the stage.
IiT founder Priya Lalwani Purswaney said in an opening speech that Diwali is one of India’s most important festivals and has been celebrated in Taiwan officially for the third year in a row.
“And we are very grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for giving us the opportunity to do that,” Purswaney said.
Also in attendance was Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), who said the event demonstrated the robust friendship and close cultural exchanges between Taiwan and India.
“As many of you know, I feel a very special kinship with India, which is why I’m always keen to promote our relations whenever the opportunity arises,” Wu said.
Over the past decade, Taiwan and India have naturally developed a strong partnership based on shared trust and values, which has led to cooperation in areas such as trade, critical supply chains, and education, according to Wu.
“And this is what I’ll say that will get many other countries very jealous … I love India,” Wu said.
Indian national Sana Hashmi, a postdoctoral fellow at the think tank Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, told CNA she felt relations between Taiwan and India had improved significantly in the last three years.
“It’s common challenges for sure and the realization that they have shared interests,” she said. “And it’s important for both India and Taiwan to look towards each other to cooperate and find ways to enhance cooperation.”
Taipei-based Indian artist Vandana Mengane, who also attended the festive event, told CNA it gave her the feeling of celebrating the festival in India.
“For me Diwali is always with family and friends, no matter where we stay in which corner of the world. At home we do all the rituals, which we do usually in India, and when we come out, we have such events and that gives us the same feeling we have if we were back in India,” Mengane said.
This was the third time IiT and the Taipei-India Music and Culture Center organized Diwali celebrations in collaboration with Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry.
The inaugural event was held at Taipei Guest House in 2020.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel