The highly anticipated IIK Diwali Mela 2024, organized by the popular community platform IndiansinKuwait.com, became the grandest family celebration for the Indian community in Kuwait. Held on Friday, October 25th, at South Sabahiya Hall, the event drew a record-breaking crowd of over 12,000 people, making it the largest Indian community gathering in Kuwait.

The full day event flawlessly conducted by IIK was well received by the community and appreciated by the entire people gathered there.

The Mega Indian Diwali Celebration was inaugurated by Chairman of Lemonade International Mr Ali Al Sayeg and IIK representatives. Mr Dhilin - Digital Sales of Al Ansari Exchange represented the Gold Sponsor, Ms. Huda Al-Oraifan - Representative from Chery Alghanim and Mr. Eshan - General Manager of Gold Bank represented the Silver sponsor, Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Business Development Director of Kuwait Agriculture Co representing Zeeba Rice and 3 Horses and Mr Bipin of Al Rashed International Shipping Company represented the Logo Sponsor of the Diwali Mela 2024 were felicitated for sponsoring the event. All the participating Associations were felicitated at the event.

As people started to gather in large number as early as 10:00 am on a Friday morning to admire vibrant Rangolis, taste traditional Diwali sweets, and immerse themselves in the festive ambiance. The opening dance performances by Avanthika and Anagha Suraj and a patriotic showcase by Dancing Divas set a high energy for the day, followed by a showcase of India's diverse cultures through regional dances and fashion shows by associations like Samarpan - Gujarati Cultural Association, Nair Service Society, Telugu Kala Samithi, UPKAR, Tamil Engineering Forum, Kuwait Odisha Association, and Maharashtra Mandal. The Regional Fashion shows by the associations captivated the audience.

Indian Ambassador to Kuwait H.E. Dr Aadarsh Swaika, while attending the IIK Diwali Mela, expressed his delight at witnessing the enthusiastic gathering, acknowledged the importance of Diwali as a symbol of unity, hope, and cultural pride.

Various Dance performances by Dance Groups Dancing Divas, Spark Dance Academy , JTN Beat Breakers, Kathak Girls, Nrityanjali Dance Studio, Somyntra -Wings to Dance, Swastika Bharatanatyam Dance Academy, Beatbusters Dance and Fitness Academy and Hina Mod Group mesmerized the audience with their colorful performances.

Games stalls, Special kids’ corner, Stalls of various traditional dresses and artifacts, Dandya Dance etc gave a fun filled entertainment day for the whole family.

The spontaneous flash mob by the D'illusions group was an added attraction for the crowd.

People were really surprised by valuable spot prizes throughout the day. The valuable prizes were sponsored by IIK and Chery Alghanim. Al Ansari Exchange gave out exciting prizes of 50 KD, 30 KD and 20 KD for the lucky customers during the day. Gold Bank also gave out prizes to three lucky winners!

The day began with a number of competitions such as Rangoli sponsored by Oncost and Gulfmart, Diwali Mithai and Namkeen contest sponsored by Jamawar Restaurant - Holiday Inn & Suites Salmiya' . Large number of people participated in these competitions. The display of Diwali Lanterns made by the students of various Indian schools created the festive atmosphere at the Diwali Mela. Diwali Lanterns competition was sponsored by Al-Rashed International Shipping Co., Fancy Dress Competition was sponsored by Titan by Al Batel, Dandya Dance Contest was sponsored by Xcite. All the competitions were organized by Indian Women in Kuwait – IWIK.

The whole day's atmosphere was filled with festive mood, joy and excitement. The different cultures of India portrayed on stage in form of the respective traditional dances with colorful costumes while the stalls exhibited the various traditional costumes, authentic food varieties and ethnic items. The stage was electrified by both young and old participating in the fashion show from various states of India.

The program was seamlessly hosted by Dr. Navniit Gandhi, Ms. Merlene Ann Babu, and Ms. Rachana, with the "Best Performing Association" award going to the Nair Service Society (NSS). IIK expressed their heartfelt thanks to all the supporting individuals, well wishers and members of the participating associations and dance groups for making this mega event possible.

The IIK Diwali Mela 2024 was a remarkable day of joy, unity, and cultural pride, creating unforgettable memories for the Indian community in Kuwait. The event, flawlessly executed by the IIK team, made families feel right at home, connecting them to the traditions and warmth of Diwali.