Address by Ambassador

Diwali Celebration at the Embassy of India, Baku

Mr. Isamyil Asadov, Head of Asia Department MoFA, Azerbaijan, Excellencies, distinguished members of the diplomati c corps, dear friends, ladies and gentlemen, A very warm welcome to the Embassy of India!

It is a great pleasure to welcome you all this evening as we come together to celebrate one of India's most cherished festivals – Diwali, the Festival of Lights. I am particularly delighted to welcome my fellow Ambassadors, members of the diplomatic community and our Azerbaijani friends who have joined us for this special occasion.

In India, we believe that festivals are best celebrated with family and friends. They are occasions to come together, share happiness and strengthen bonds of friendship and goodwill. It is in this spirit that we have invited all of you to celebrate Diwali with us today and have kept this event open to everyone. I sincerely thank each one of you for accepting our invitation, being here and becoming a part of our celebrations. Your presence has made this evening truly special.

Diwali holds a very special place in India's cultural and spiritual traditions. One of the most widely celebrated traditions associated with the festival commemorates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, along with Goddess Sita, after fourteen years of exile and his victorious return following the defeat of Ravana. The people of Ayodhya welcomed them by lighting rows of earthen lamps, or diyas, outside their homes, transforming the city into a sea of light. This tradition continues to this day, with millions of Indians illuminating their homes to celebrate the occasion.

Diwali is much more than a festival. It is a celebration of hope, harmony and renewal, and of the eternal triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil. It reminds us that even the smallest light can dispel the deepest darkness and that hope and goodness will always prevail.

Across India, Diwali is celebrated with immense enthusiasm and joy. Homes and streets are illuminated with traditional oil lamps, colourful decorations and vibrant rangolis. Families come together, exchange sweets and greetings, offer prayers and celebrate the spirit of togetherness. While customs and traditions may vary across different regions of India, the underlying message of the festival remains the same – to spread happiness, embrace positivity and share light with those around us.

I believe this message resonates far beyond India. The values of friendship, compassion, harmony and mutual respect are universal, and festivals such as Diwali provide us with an opportunity to celebrate these shared values across cultures and communities.

As we celebrate Diwali here in Baku, I hope the light of these lamps will further illuminate the bonds of friendship between India and Azerbaijan and bring greater warmth and goodwill to our wider international community.

Once again, thank you all for joining us. I wish you and your families happiness, peace, prosperity and good health.

A very Happy Diwali to all of you! Shubh Deepawali!

Thank you.