Missed it? Check out our exclusive event recap!
By Muskan Shah
An impressive initiative to promote India’s rich culture in Thailand, a Diwali Fair was hosted for the first time at SookSiam, the inimitable ground floor of luxury landmark ICONSIAM, which houses an indoor floating market.
The fair took place between the 13th and 15th November and saw over 80 stalls spread across several zones selling Indian food, jewellery, apparel, decorations, and much more. Striking décor helped create the perfect setting for the bustling marketplace and included monumental statues of the revered Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi as well as a three-metre tall image of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.
The three-day event opened with an inauguration by the Indian Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. Suchitra Durai; Cultural Minister of Thailand, Khun Ittiphol Kunplome; and the first-runner up of Miss Universe Thailand 2020, Veena Praveenar Singh. After the ceremony, the opening celebrations saw several traditional Thai and Indian dance performances.
Across the next few days, the event saw more exceptional dances, including the sensational Simran from the YouTube channel Urbanjatti Dance and young rising stars donning colourful kurtis and lehengas to perform electrifying routines. Dhol beats and DJ tunes could be heard reverberating through the air as attendees perused the numerous stalls and tucked into exquisite fare like refreshing kulfis and tangy chaats.
Alongside all the goods on sale, there was also the opportunity to sit and have mehendi (henna) done, participate in a range of fun workshops, and enjoy cultural performances. One of the highlights was the Ganesh and Lakshmi puja to bless all attendees. The sheer number of things to do made the fair a great day out for the whole family.
This initiative would not have been possible without the efforts of the various organisers and sponsors, including but not limited to Dubai Bazaar, Thai Sikh News, Singh Light & Sound, Make Thai Trip, and Divine Events. All teams involved made sure to pull out all the stops to ensure a fun experience for all ages, while committing to the mission of promoting Indian culture in the Land of Smiles.
