India Day spices up  Luxembourg City

Visitors soaked up the sunshine, sounds and smells at Luxembourg's fourth India Day on Sunday – a celebration of the Indian community living in the Grand Duchy.

The event, organised by the Indian Association of Luxembourg (IAL), showcases the community's regional diversity, food, dance, music and culture, and highlighting the vibrancy and cultural acceptance of its host country, Luxembourg.

The IAL estimates there are 3,000 people of Indian origin living in Luxembourg.

On Sunday, visitors had the chance to see vibrant dance performances, led by the IAL's cultural secretary Sunita Trivedi, who also teaches vegan and vegetarian Indian cookery and Bollywood dance classes.

"Our working committee believes that we should always be present to help our community in any way possible," Niraj Trivedi, membership secretary of the IAL, said.

Cultural exchange

Those looking to sample some spicy delicacies from the different regions of India were not disappointed. There was also a stand selling momo and other Himilayan street food, cooked by Shrestha Mala who moved to Luxembourg from Nepal some 16 years ago.

Zenia Dutta Roy, owner of Le Sutras which sells handcrafted silk scarves, linen and clothing, moved to Luxembourg 11 years ago from Mumbai and became a citizen of the Grand Duchy two years ago. "We wanted a less hectic lifestyle, and we have a great work life balance here," she said.

"Luxembourg and Luxembourgers are very open minded to our culture and welcoming to families who choose to make this country their second home," IAL president, Selvaraj Alagumalai, said.

Luxembourger Tom Schaul is the vice-president of Dignity Asbl, which provides aid to women and children from marginalised communities in southern India. Founded 12 years ago by a fellow Luxembourger who was in India during the 2004 Tsunami, the organisation works with local NGOs.

"I fell in love with the culture of India when I first visited the country," he said. "Indian people have brought a great philosophy to Europe, with yoga and meditation becoming very popular here."

The IAL strives to spread the cultural diversity and traditions of India within Luxembourg, celebrating Harvest Festival, Holi (the festival of colours), Eid-il-Fitar, Diwali, and the Lagaan Cup for cricket during the year. It plans to add a food festival to its calendar of events in 2020.

The Diwali festival of lights will also return on 9 November and this year will take place at the Casino 2000 in Mondorf-les-Bains.

Luxembourg's first Durga Puja

Next month, Luxembourg will holds its first Durga Puja festival to express gratitude for the annual harvest.

The origins of the festival date back to the 15th century and at its core it epitomises the victory of good over evil. Legend tells that a ten-handed, weapon-laden goddess Durga, riding a lion, defeated the shape-shifting, deceptive and powerful buffalo demon-king Mahishasura, thereby restoring peace and prosperity to the universe.

The four-day Durga Puja will be held at the Salle am Duerf, 3 Rue de Hesperange in Itzig from Friday 4 October (from 4pm) to Monday 7 October (until 2pm). It will include prayer traditions and rituals, and a chance to sample some home-made cuisine, listen to live music, see an art exhibition, and play games.

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