Cyprus Celebrates First-Ever Diwali at Presidential Palace; Help2Live Founder Dipak Kumar Launches #DiwaliHug

Nicosia Cyprus Diwali was celebrated at the Presidential Palace of Cyprus for the first time on November 9 at an evening organised by the Help2Live Charity Foundation founded by MrDipak Kumar in collaboration with the High Commission of India in CyprusThe event Cyprus Glows Diwali 2026 was hosted by HE President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides and First Lady Philippa Karsera About 150 guests attended including Bishop Gregorios of Mesaoria the Attorney General ministers members of parliament diplomats business representatives and members of the Indian communityThe celebration was initiated by MrDipak Kumar who has lived in Cyprus for more than 20 years and founded Help2Live 15 years ago with his own fundsDiwaliHugDuring the evening MrDipak Kumar embraced HE President Christodoulides a gesture that marked the start of the DiwaliHugAccording to Help2Live the gesture reflects the core message of Diwali the victory of light over darkness and the belief that what unites people is greater than what divides them A hug like the light of a diya does not ask about anyonersquos nationality faith or languageMrDipak Kumar has invited people across Cyprus and beyond to embrace a loved one a friend or a stranger and share the moment on social media with DiwaliHug tagging indiansincyprusWelcome addressIn his welcome address MrDipak Kumar thanked the President for opening the Presidential Palace to Diwali for the first time describing it as a gift to every Indian living in CyprusHe said his name means ldquodiyardquo or lamp in Sanskrit and that he founded Help2Live with the wish to ldquolight a lamp wherever the darkness is deepestrdquoHe outlined the foundationrsquos work in Cyprus which includessupport and education for orphaned childrena rooftop garden for cancer patients at the German Medical Instituteregular visits to elderly people in care homesdeliveries of groceries and medicines during the pandemiclongterm support for families of Cyprus Police officers who lost their livessponsorship of football volleyball and marathon events for young peopleldquoWe cannot always add days to our life but we believe we can add light to those daysrdquo he saidHe said Help2Live works with other charities and foundations because its mission ldquowas never about one namerdquo He also referred to an exhibition the foundation funded in Warsaw on Cyprusrsquos Holy Twelve Days of Christmas held with the Church of Cyprus and the Cyprus Police as an example of unity in diversityOn IndiandashCyprus relations MrDipak Kumar described Cyprus as an allweather friend of India and compared the bond to the friendship of Krishna and Sudama He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support Cyprus on electricity direct flights and securityldquoIndia is the land that gave me birth and Cyprus is the land that gave me purposerdquo he said adding that Indians would stand with Cyprus ldquotoday tomorrow and alwaysrdquoDonationsFollowing the address the eveningrsquos host announced that Help2Live would donate euro20000 to two Cypriot charities euro10000 to the Alkionides Foundation and euro10000 to RadiomarathonPresident and High CommissionerHE President Christodoulides thanked MrDipak Kumar for his support to the Cyprus Glows ndash Diwali event at the Presidential Palace of Cyprus He said the event reflected the close relationship between the two countries and the contribution of the Indian community to Cyprusrsquos social and economic lifeHe noted that Cyprus and India established diplomatic relations in 1962 that Prime Minister Modi visited Cyprus in June 2025 and that his own state visit to India took place in May 2026 He said the IndiandashEU trade agreement expected to be signed next month in Brussels offered a historic opportunity for both sidesldquoThe light we create together can reach much further than what each of us could create alonerdquo the President saidHigh Commissioner of India to Cyprus HE Manish thanked the President and the First Lady for what he called a generous expression of friendship He also thanked MrDipak Kumar for his support to the Cyprus Glows ndash Diwali event at the Presidential Palace of CyprusHe said Diwali teaches that ldquogoodness deserves our courage knowledge deserves our pursuit and hope deserves our carerdquo He reaffirmed Indiarsquos support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus and highlighted cooperation in shipping payments trade education and defence India and Cyprus will mark 65 years of diplomatic relations in 2027ProgrammeThe programme included a ceremonial lamplighting on stage by the President the First Lady and the High Commissioner Indian dance performances and Indian cuisine The evening concluded with a concert by Greek artists Giorgos Theofanous and Giorgos Papadopoulos

Cyprus Celebrates First-Ever Diwali at Presidential Palace; Help2Live Founder Dipak Kumar Launches #DiwaliHug

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Cyprus Celebrates First-Ever Diwali at Presidential Palace; Help2Live Founder Dipak Kumar Launches #DiwaliHug

Other Articles

Mid-Day Fast