KUWAIT CITY, March 18: Ambassador of India to Kuwait Dr. Adarsh Swaika hosted a Ramadan Ghabqa at India House on Monday night to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. Present at the gathering were members of the Indian community and the diplomatic corps; as well as the oil minister, Farwaniya governor, Amiri Diwan advisor, Ministry of Defense undersecretary, Ministry of Information undersecretary, chief executive officer of the National Bank of Kuwait, chief executive officer of Kuwait Finance House, prominent Kuwaiti businesspersons and others. The ambassador conveyed his heartfelt greetings on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan to all those present at the event and the entire Kuwait. He said this tradition, which is observed by the Indian Embassy, symbolizes the shared cultural heritage between the two countries. He disclosed that in India, a land of diverse religions and cultures, the month of Ramadan holds great significance highlighting country’s vibrant pluralism, as it is home to the second largest Muslim population in the world.

He added “it also symbolizes the spirit of unity in diversity, where people of different religions and backgrounds live in harmony.” He continued “in Kuwait, the Indian community maintains the tradition of hosting Iftar and Ghabqa banquets during Ramadan, refl ecting the strong cultural and popular ties between the two countries.” He stated that this event highlighted the Indian way of celebrating Ramadan through Indian music and cuisine. He also reiterated the depth of the relationship between the two countries in all fields, citing the historic visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait, which he described as “very successful”. Indian artists presented live musical performances; featuring classical Indian instruments such as the fl ute, tabla and violin -- set to the tunes of famous Bollywood songs. The kitchen featured live cooking of delicious Indian cuisine, including some popular dishes in India and Kuwait.

By Fares Al-Abdan
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff