Diwali Lights in Ashgabat – Festive Reception by the Indian Embassy
Ashgabat, October 19 | ORIENT. The Indian Embassy in Turkmenistan held a gala reception on Sunday at the Yildiz Hotel to celebrate Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights. Filled with vibrant colors, music, and profound meaning, the event was a vivid demonstration of the strong cultural and humanitarian ties between the two friendly countries.
Diwali (or Deepavali) is one of the oldest and most important festivals in India. Celebrated annually in the fall, it symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and truth over falsehood, and is celebrated with the lighting of candles and lanterns throughout the country.
The festive evening began with the ceremonial lighting of a traditional clay lamp, Diya, surrounded by flower petals. Ambassador-designate of India to Turkmenistan, Mr. Bandaru Wilsonbabu, for whom this reception was one of his first public events since arriving in Ashgabat last week, expressed in his speech his deep gratitude to the Government and people of Turkmenistan for their hospitality and cordiality. The official representative of Turkmenistan at the reception was Gurbandurdy Saparov, Head of the Department of Asia-Pacific Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bandaru Wilsonbabu recalled recent high-level contacts that confirm the high dynamism of cooperation: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Tianjin, China, in August 2025, and Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov met with his Indian counterpart in June 2025.
Referring to India's "extended neighborhood" concept, the diplomat noted Turkmenistan's key role in the region, its leadership in the oil and gas sector, the chemical industry, including fertilizer production, and its successes in developing digital infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Mr. Wilsonbabu expressed confidence that "under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the partnership between India and Turkmenistan will reach even greater heights in the near future."
In addition to the official part, guests enjoyed a vibrant cultural program. The evening was a vivid demonstration of how deeply Indian culture is ingrained in the Turkmen context.
Many female guests came in stylized Indian attire, and among the guests were representatives of Turkmen universities that teach Hindi. The Ambassador noted with satisfaction that yoga, Ayurveda, dance music, and Bollywood films are popular in Turkmenistan.
The Yildiz Hotel's banquet hall was temporarily transformed into a veritable mini-Bollywood: fiery Indian dances gave way to performances by a Turkmen singer, who sang Indian hits from famous films, showcasing "that very" Bollywood sound.
The evening concluded with a feast of Indian cuisine, renowned for its rich, spicy flavors. On Diwali, food and abundance symbolize prosperity, in keeping with the spirit of the Festival of Lights.
The event demonstrated that, beyond their strategic economic partnership, India and Turkmenistan are linked by ancient civilizational ties that are strengthened through cultural exchange. Holidays like Diwali serve as a cultural and spiritual bridge, allowing people to better understand each other in a sincere desire for communication, trust, and peace.
Enejan KEPBANOVA
