+34
India Day, organized by the Ireland India Council, is a vibrant annual celebration of the cultural and social bond between India and Ireland. The event features a diverse program including classical dance performances, music, fashion shows, and culinary delights, showcasing the rich heritage of the Indian community in Ireland.
Ireland India Council says vast majority of hostile phone calls it received before 2025 event was postponed originated from the USAgrema Binil Vijayaraag, Uma Shankar, Abigail Puthupilil, Alonah Ani and Lakshmipriya Kingkumar of the Sree Shiva Academy perform a dance routine at Trim Castle as part of India Day celebrations.
Photograph: Enda O'Dowdcancelled due to a spate of attacks The event, which has been organised by the Ireland India Council since 2015, aims to celebrate relations between the countries.in Tallaght, Dublin was one of the main reasons for the event’s cancellation last year, alongside a string of hostile messages left on the council’s social media pages and phone line.
“It was very upsetting for the whole team,” said Aparna Shukla, cultural co-ordinator for India Day. “Every day we were debating whether we should or shouldn’t do it, but the attacks were increasing in number.
CMAT at Electric Picnic: Dunboyne Diana’s Dolly Parton tribute kicks off dazzling homecoming setHospitality boom and $100 chicken nuggets: how the US Open became obscenely expensive “We were getting a lot of ground reports from communities that it was spreading throughout Ireland, and we were getting a lot of abuse on our social media. ” Shukla is responsible for pulling together the event’s cultural itinerary, which this year included Bharatanatyam dance and a fashion show featuring “Indian ethnic wear” such as saris and lehengas.
Indian dance routines, she said, tell stories that unfold over the course of a performance, often conveyed by arm and hand gestures. Members of Sree Shiva Academy perform at India Day in Trim Castle Hotel, Co Meath, on Sunday. Photograph: Enda O'Dowd Shukla moved to Ireland in 2002, a time when just a couple of thousand Indian people lived in the State. Today, the community is 80,000 strong.
She recalled being pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of strangers on the street when she first arrived. Things have changed over time, she said, but last year was anomalous and, in her opinion, was the result of “some kind of funded agenda that was carried out by people who were recruited for some campaign”.
The IIC said the vast majority of hostile phone calls it received originated from the US, and Shukla said some of the abusive comments made on social media came from Make America Great Again supporters. After last year’s disruption, she believed proceeding with the event year’s event was “very important”.
“Everybody missed last year, and we got such an overwhelming response when we released this event,” she said. “We got random phone calls saying, ‘You are so welcome in this country and we are so happy that you are celebrating this year. ’” Prashant Shukla, the council’s co-chairman alongside Damien Nee, said the situation has improved a lot over the last 12 months.
He said there have been no “significant incidents of violence” towards the Indian community so far this year and he credited the Government for its support in building a “friendly atmosphere”. Prashant Shukla, chairman and co-founder of the Ireland India Council, at Trim Castle Hotel in Co Meath. Photograph: Enda O'Dowd “This is something I can be proud of in the Irish system,” Shukla said.
“In many countries, violence has happened against the Indian community, but no country in the world actually tackled it the way Ireland tackled it. ” A portion of the day centred around the EU-India Free Trade Agreement, which was signed earlier this year and described by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen as “the mother of all deals”.
The council is encouraging Ireland to take a lead on the agreement as it is implemented over the coming months and years. A “trade and investment forum” with networking opportunities also took place, and Ireland India Day was attended by a number of Irish companies, including AIB, Bank of Ireland, Kildare Village and Forever Health Foods. A number of political representatives, including members of Meath County Council, were also present.
The cultural portion of the afternoon, in Aparna Shukla’s eyes, was an example of her community’s integration in Ireland. Alongside Indian musicians, Co Kerry-born singer-songwriter Francie Conway and local players from Trim performed for attendees.
“Culture creates understanding and understanding builds relationships,” she added. “I may be biased because I’m from India, but I feel India is like a cultural capital of the world. Our music and dance that you see, they are traditions that are thousands of years old. I think people are very privileged to be able to witness those performances in Ireland.
”M50 flyover barriers not designed to stop head-on collisions, says TII following crashActor Olwen Fouéré: ‘I firmly believe we are in the last days of the Anthropocene’Former RTÉ presenter Keith Walsh sues broadcaster for ‘unfair dismissal’M50 flyover barriers not designed to stop head-on collisions, says TII following crashMan arrested after cyclist killed in Co Meath hit and run
India Day Ireland India Council Cultural Celebration Indian Dance Indian Fashion
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ireland finish 10th at Men's World Cup following high-scoring loss to New ZealandMark Tumilty’s side were beaten 6-3 by New Zealand in the ninth-/tenth-place playoff.
Read more »
Understanding and Reducing Car Insurance Premiums in IrelandA detailed guide on the factors that drive car insurance costs in Ireland, the impact of market trends, and practical tips for lowering your annual premiums.
Read more »
Zoe Hyde and Mags Cremen win gold for Ireland at World Rowing ChampionshipsIrish pair finish strong to trump home favourites
Read more »
David McWilliams: Why the US’s deteriorating financial health is bad news for IrelandForeign investment in US bond market has been a boon for Americans, but they are vulnerable to a change in sentiment
Read more »