Inspired by the vision of India’s cultural and spiritual unity in diversity and ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’, the Embassy of India, Dublin hosted, for the first time in Ireland, a special cultural evening dedicated to Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, as part of the Embassy’s initiative of the State Cultural Event Series.
The program comprised a multi-media presentation on the rich historical, cultural, culinary, craft and tourist heritage of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, as well as a number of traditional dances, Kashmiri poetry recital and display of fascinating textiles and crafts.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador of India to Ireland, H.E. Akhilesh Mishra profusely thanked the small, about 200 strong, Kashmiri diaspora in Dublin for enthusiastically supporting the Embassy in hosting the first-ever exclusive presentation on Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. He described the tradition of the Kashmiri people as a true reflection of the syncretic, inclusive, multi-cultural ethos of Indian civilization.
‘The Kashmiri people have suffered due to decades of cross-border sponsorship of terrorism and injection of extremist ideology. Since the abrogation of the Article 370, the region is witnessing a resurgence in tourism and economic activities thanks inter-alia to much improved security environment and physical and emotional connectivity with the rest of India’, he added.
Recalling the ancient philosophical and literary heritage of Kashmir, he expressed appreciation for the efforts being made by the people to revive the Sharda script and translation of Kashmiri literature into Hindi, specially highlighting the recent translation of the Kashmiri Ramayana and growing interest in the great scholar of Kashmir Shaivism, Abhinav Gupt, and saint poetess, Lal Ded, whose message of pure devotion cuts across any social divisions.
He also recalled that the whole idea of launching the State Cultural Event Series in September, 2023 (so far 18 States have been covered) was to encourage Indian diaspora in Ireland as well as the Irish people to learn about and celebrate the glory of unity in the incredible diversity of Bharat.
