Manish Shukla
New Delhi: As Ireland and India mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, they’re strengthening ties across trade, education, and culture. To commemorate this milestone, the Irish Embassy in New Delhi presents a unique cultural collaboration during Kolkata’s Durga Puja festival.
Irish and Indian artists are jointly creating a spectacular pandal at Behala Nutan Dal, blending artistic traditions. This fusion honors Hindu goddess Durga and Celtic goddess Danu, celebrating women’s power and the feminine spirit.
Ireland’s Ambassador to India, Kevin Kelly, notes, “Our peoples share education, culture, and values. We’re committed to strengthening ties, exploring trade, tech, and culture opportunities.”
This collaboration between Macnas (Ireland) and Behala Nutan Dal (Kolkata) symbolizes growing global recognition of Durga Puja as a cross-cultural dialogue platform.
Today, Ireland is home to over 100,000 Indians, making them the third-largest immigrant group. Irish universities are a hit with Indian students, with enrolment growing tenfold in the last decade.
The two nations have discovered strong synergies in tech, pharmaceuticals, and trade. Ireland serves as a gateway to Europe for Indian businesses, while India offers vast opportunities for Irish enterprises.
Their cultural connection runs deep. West Bengal and Ireland have shared cultural ties for over a century. Kolkata, birthplace of Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore, has strong links to Ireland’s literary giants.
To commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations, the Embassy of Ireland is collaborating with Kolkata’s Behala Nutan Dal on a stunning Durga Puja pandal. Irish arts collective Macnas will contribute to the design, blending Irish and Indian artistic traditions.