Cultural Collage

Most diplomats posted in India confess that the richness of traditional festivals in India always arouse their curiosity. But it is Holi and Diwali,in particular,which garner the maximum attention. While some like Castellanos talk of how they first got drawn in to the festival of lights while watching the city being lit up with diyas on Diwali,for several others,the festival is special for more personal reasons. German ambassador Thomas Matussek,for instance,recalls how exactly 25 years ago he had first been posted in India around Diwali as the Press Officer at the German embassy in Chanakyapuri. During his tenure in India between 1982-86 Matussek celebrated four Diwalis,and now,he is back again in India,just ahead of Diwali — this time as his country’s ambassador. “We used to go up to the terrace of our house in Panchsheel Park and light rockets and sparklers. I was curious to be part of the festival. The kids were too young then,so they were scared,but it felt nice participating in a new custom,” says Matussek,recalling his first Diwali in 1982.

Dressed in a plain white kurta,he adeptly lights a sparkler and talks of his plans for the day,even as his staff prepares for a pre-Diwali bash. “My wife Ulla and I will have a quiet and pollution-free celebration. We will visit a few Indian friends,participate in some card parties and that will be it,” he says. His wife,an accomplished Bharatnatyam dancer,adds with a grin,“We will definitely not gamble large sums of money.” Sara Sofer,wife of Israeli ambassador Mark Sofer,who organised a party for her staff on Wednesday at their Shanti Niketan residence says the festival is quite similar to the Jewish festival of lights,Hanukkah,coming up in December. “We have been to Diwali parties in the Capital in our three years here,but this time I decided to throw a party of my own for the staff,” smiled Sofer,who also serves as the Cultural Attache at the embassy. “I like diyas and I light them during Diwali,” she said. At the party at her residence,an elaborate north-Indian menu was ably complimented by traditional Israeli desserts and biscuits and fruit salads. Bollywood hits were played,alongside popular Israeli tracks,to which the crowd boogied away till the wee hours of the night. Carolina Prada,an ICCI scholar from Colombia gave an Odissi dance recital too.

Meanwhile,the British High Commission too is rolling out Diwali celebrations. After a Diwali bash on October 30 at the High Commission,the British Council hosted a party for its staff members on Tuesday evening. Ruth Gee,Head,British Council was busy partaking in the sweets and Indian delicacies at the do. “I am familiar with Diwali since Britain has a large Indian presence and I have a few Indian friends in London with whom we celebrate Diwali each year,” says Gee,who has already set aside a red and gold chiffon sari for today’s celebrations. But she will celebrate it away from the city in a pristine jungle lodge at the Corbett National Park. “Diwali is about friends and family,pretty much like Christmas. So I will head out with an Indian friend over the weekend and enjoy myself,” she adds.

(with inputs by Richa Bhatia)