The Indian community in The Gambia, on Saturday converged at the Senegambia Beach Hotel to celebrate the Hindu festival of lights otherwise known as Dawali. This festival is said to be the most popular of all the festivals from South Asia, and it is also the occasion celebrated by the Jains, Sikhs and the Hindus.

The festival is meant for the celebration of victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance, although the actual legends that go with the festival and different in different part of India.

The festival of Dawali is usually celebrated for five days. Goddess Lakshmi for wealth and Goddess kali are also celebrated.  The essential elements of the celebration includes Diyas (Lamps), fireworks, Rangoli (coloured rice powder designs on the floor) and exchange of gifts among people, redecorating of homes and purchase of new clothes.

Regardless of mythological explanation one prefers, what the festival of lights really stands for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religious sanctioned celebration of simple and some not so simple, joys of life.

Ram Mohan, the Honourary Consul General of India in The Gambia also used the occasion to express his gratitude during an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer before the celebration begins.

He said that the occasion will help the Indian community to interact with the Gambians through which money and gifts will be collected from the Indian community as a charity to support the health sector especially the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) and the education sector. He disclosed that the Indian Community will also donate items such as, television sets, blankets, bed sheets, fans, stationaries and some amount of money, being part of the Indian community's contribution to the welfare of the nation.

Commenting on the bilateral relationship between the government of The Gambia and the Indian government, Mr Mohan observed that the two governments has a strong relationship. He highlighted some of the projects Indian government has been contributing in The Gambia, which he said a 6.7 million US Dollar Tractor Assembly factory was established last year.

The Indian Consul General also revealed that the Indian government, through the ECOWAS bank, was able to give US$20,000 (twenty thousand dollars) for rural electrification project and recently, an amount of US$10,000 (ten thousand dollars) was also given to support the construction of the new National Assembly building. 

He also highlighted the support they received from some NGO's like the Bara Foot College of Tilonia and Gram Vikas, who are working in partnership with Riders for Health Gambia and are also actively involved in the solar, electrification, water and sanitation project for the rural areas.

The Indian diplomat further dwelt on the scholarship package that the his government has been providing for young Gambians through the Indian Technical Education Cooperation (ITEC) which he said the number has been increased from 10-25 this year. He said the scholarship package is a fully sponsored short term scholarship which includes air ticket, accommodation, fees allowances and others.

He promised that the trend will continue as they will not be relentless to give support to the welfare of the nation.  The Indian Consul commended the Gambia government for providing a conducive environment for the Indian community many of whom are engaged in trading (business, construction) and some other areas of development. 

He also hailed the Indian community for contributing immensely to welfare of the nation through job creation, aid and other developmental projects.

He also said that the Indian community has now grown up rapidly in the recent years from 150 to 400 Indians currently living in The Gambia. "The reason behind the rapid increasement is because The Gambia is one of the safest countries in the world, it is friendly and hospitable and have a good security system. This why investors will love to stay and invest," he remarked.