France witnessed a vibrant celebration of the Indian festival of Holi, with around 20,000 people gathering in Paris to mark the occasion. The event, organised by the Global Indian Organisation (GIO) France, luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, and the Jardin d'Acclimatation, drew enthusiastic crowds to the city's iconic amusement park on Sunday.
In a statement shared on Monday, the Indian Embassy in France hailed the celebration as a “vibrant celebration of the Indian festival of colours,” noting that it underscored the ideals of liberty, equality, fraternity, and joie de vivre cherished by the people of both France and India. The Embassy’s post on X stated, “Holi in Paris – Vibrant celebration of the Indian festival of colours ‘Holi’ @Jardindacclim organised by @GIOFranceParis @LVMH @MA_Jamet. The celebration was attended by around 20,000 people.”
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The Indian Ambassador to France, Sanjeev Singla, also highlighted the deeper message of unity in diversity during his remarks at the event, reinforcing the strong cultural ties between India and France. “The celebrations today underscored the spirit of unity in diversity and the ideals of liberty, equality, fraternity & joie de vivre cherished deeply by the people of France and India,” the Embassy post further noted.
The event featured a mix of traditional Indian music and dance performances, Henna art, and Indian culinary delights, providing a glimpse into the rich cultural tapestry of India. The celebration served as a bridge between the two nations, strengthening people-to-people connections and cultural ties.
The Jardin d'Acclimatation, which first opened its gates in 1860, played host to the grand festivities, reflecting its long-standing association with multicultural events. The event was also supported by Marc-Antoine Jamet, the Mayor and departmental councillor of Val-de-Reuil.
France is home to a vibrant Indian diaspora, with an estimated 1,19,000 people of Indian origin living in mainland France, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Many are descendants of early settlers from Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, Mahe, and Chandernagore, along with migrants from the states of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Punjab. The French overseas territories also have substantial Indian-origin populations, including 3,00,159 people in Reunion Island, 57,180 in Guadeloupe, 8,090 in Martinique, and 1,950 in Saint Martin.
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