The annual Indian Diwali Fest 2018 in HCM City. — Photo courtesy of Incham |
HCM CITY — More than 1,000 expats and Vietnamese attended the annual Indian Diwali Fest 2018, known as “The Festival of Lights”, in HCM City on November 3.
Diwali or Deepavali is the biggest festival in the year for the Indian community in Việt Nam.
Organised by the Indian Business Chamber in Việt Nam (Incham) at GEM Center in District 1 from 6pm until late, the event provided unique dance performances as well as authentic cuisine from the ethnically diverse Indian sub-continent, a free flow of drinks, and prizes for a raffle draw.
It included performances from Bollywood playback singer Shabab Sabri and his band, the winner of the Aap Ki Awaz Media Excellence Award 2014.
A part of the proceeds from ticket sale will be donated for charity, according to Incham.
Diwali is one of the most sacred festivals for Hindus and is widely celebrated across India. It spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, or good over evil.
Preparations for Diwali start a few weeks before the festival date, and the rituals typically extend over a five-day period.
The main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu calendar month Kartika. Based on the Gregorian calendar, Diwali night falls between mid-October and mid-November.
Besides India, Diwali is also widely celebrated in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Nepal, Malaysia, Mauritius and other countries. — VNS