High Commissioner of India, HE Gloria Gangte
President of the Maltese Indian Community, Dr Shirley Farrugia
Distinguished guests
Dear friends,
Thank you for inviting Miriam and me to celebrate with you the joyful festival of Diwali in this pleasant atmosphere. Allow me to extend my gratitude and appreciation to the Maltese Indian Community, for your warm welcome to tonight’s Gala.
The spirit with which we are gathered here today is a clear attestation of the strong links and the deep friendship between the people of Malta and the people of India.
Our countries, both from a geographical and geostrategic perspective, represent two worlds apart. Despite these differences, events such as this one allow us to come together, united in our values.
We can proudly state that irrespective of our cultural, historical, geographical and demographical differences, amongst other, we continue to strengthen the ties that bring our two peoples together.
Malta is pleased to be home to an ever-increasing Indian community, residing and working in Malta.
We are proud to offer an environment where, while providing us with your professional services, you feel appreciated, and get to enjoy the respect and security that you all deserve.
I always found it interesting how the presence of the Indian community in Malta dates back for over 100 years, with the first Indians settling in Malta around the end of the 19th Century.
Most of us in Malta have very fond and nostalgic recollections of fascinating ‘Indian shops’ (Hwienet tal-Indjani) in Valletta and Hamrun that used to trade mostly in fine fabric and draperies.
Today, I am happy to observe how the Indian Community in Malta is thriving on our islands, present in a diversified commercial portfolio, including pharmaceuticals, IT and construction, and above all the caring professions.
Your community amongst us has always respected local traditions and kept excellent relations with local authorities and the Maltese communities.
I am happy to listen to members of various local organisations within Maltese localities praise the way your community is always willing to assist in and be a part of local events and activities.
Your active participation in the Maltese economy and contribution towards its growth, but also the mosaic of traditions and customs you share with us, continue to enrich our country’s cultural and demographic portfolio.
Such festivities are therefore an occasion to nourish our people-to-people exchanges, and further strengthen our friendly relations at a grass roots level.
We cherish together these occasions that give us an opportunity to rejoice special moments with family and loved ones; to remember and be thankful for the most important things in our life.
Above all, such events provide us with a chance to pronounce and celebrate our values, culture, and spirituality.
Diwali is perhaps the biggest and brightest festivals celebrated in India. The spirituality at the core of today’s celebration is grounded on the human instincts of joy and happiness.
As you all know very well, the Diwali festivities originate from the age-old struggle between the forces of good and evil. It signifies the ultimate triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.
It is interesting to note how across various cultures and societies around the world, light is used as a symbol of understanding and intellectual insight.
Almost universally, the absence of light is considered to be frightening, associated with the unknown and things that we cannot understand. Light in this sense is a source that brings order out of chaos.
Here in Malta, we too celebrate a feast of light, a festival called ‘l-Imnarja’, a term that finds its origin in the Latin word ‘Luminaria’ meaning to ‘light up’. We celebrate this national public holiday every year on 29 of June.
Also here in Europe, the continent is said to have emerged from what we call the ‘dark ages’ with the advent of the Enlightenment, a period where the light of knowledge started to penetrate the European intellect.
Hence why Diwali is also referred to as the festival of light, marked by millions of lamps and lights that outshines darkness, exposes hidden obstacles and dispels our ignorance of what lies ahead. This powerful symbolism of light is something that we can all relate to, as it is a fundamental part of the universal language of peace.
Like we are doing this evening, we should never be shy of promoting dialogue and mutual respect, even when this means going against the current or agreeing to disagree with respect and tolerance.
We must continually do our level best, as responsible global citizens, to be a voice for dialogue and understanding.
Dear friends,
To conclude, allow me to convey my feelings of appreciation at how truly fortunate we are to have these wonderful traditions woven into the tapestry of the Maltese multicultural scenario.
I hope that you will continue to find in Malta a safe and stable country, fertile terrain to prosper and above all, a welcoming, generous people.
I wish you all every success in your endeavours and may the Festival of Lights bring peace and serenity to you, your families and your loved ones.