Foreign Diplomats and UAE Ruler Celebrate Diwali in India
International ambassadors and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum extended greetings and held cultural celebrations to mark the 2026 Diwali festival.
International diplomats and leaders marked the 2026 Diwali festival on November 7 with cultural celebrations and public messages of peace and togetherness. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, issued greetings via X, wishing celebrants in the UAE and globally peace, hope, and prosperity.
In New Delhi, several foreign missions hosted events to honor the festival. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea organized a diya decorating workshop, while the Embassy of Japan hosted a festive lunch. European Union Ambassador Jean-Eric Paquet celebrated his first Diwali in India, wearing traditional blue attire and lighting a lamp on a rangoli. Paquet stated that the experience "will stay with me forever," noting that the festival's essence must be lived rather than explained.
Other diplomatic representatives used video messages to highlight cultural exchange. German Ambassador Jasper Wieck thanked his local Indian colleagues for their essential contributions and for transforming the German Embassy with lights, music, and colors. Norwegian Ambassador May-Elin Stener and Danish Ambassador Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen also issued statements emphasizing shared values of kindness and friendship. These celebrations occurred during the five-day festival period, which began with Dhanteras on November 6 and peaked with Lakshmi Puja on November 8.
