On 21st August 2022, Dublin witnessed the India Day celebrations by the Federation of Indian Communities in Ireland (FICI) at Merrion Square Park East.
This celebration was part of the 76th Independence Day of India & 75th Jubilee Years of Independence under the tagline Aazadi ka Amirit Mahotsav.
H.E. Mr. Brenden Ward, Irish Ambassador to India, and H.E. Mr. Akhilesh Mishra, Indian Ambassador to Ireland, and Assistant Commissioner of Garda Paula Hilman graced this event with their honorable presence.
Councillor Carolyn Moore representing the Lord Mayor of Dublin also attended the event making it even more memorable.
The event was a free, open outdoor event that was supported by the Integration Section and Park Management Department of Dublin City Council.
This event featured a good blend of Irish and Indian cultural presentations, spectacular performances of traditional, patriotic Indian as well Irish songs, Irish classical dance by Burgess School of Dance, Tipperary, and EPIC dance school, among other music and drama. More than 1500 people attended this 7th India Day celebration.
The event also included a variety of exhibitions showcasing Indian cuisine, traditional dresses, and cultural representations from the community members coming from different parts of India. This event represented the Indian motto of “Unity in Diversity”, thereby bringing all communities together under this umbrella/ platform to demonstrate a flavor of Indian diversity and cultural integration.
FICI has been involved in organizing the India Day event since 2015. FICI is a non-profit umbrella community organization or Apex body representing regional and ethnically diverse Indian community associations, groups, and individual members of Indian origin residing in Ireland and promoting the social inclusiveness of cultural diversity which also enhances community integration