The Indian High Commission in Jamaica is gearing up to enhance its celebration of Indian culture in the country, aiming to engage a broader audience in these vibrant festivities.

Indian High Commissioner Masakui Rungsung evealed plans to expand the events, seeking additional sponsors to bolster their scale. He pressed the commission’s ambition to make the festivals “bigger” and more accessible to the Jamaican populace.

“We would like to open up the Indian festival celebrations to the people, that’s the whole idea, but we will have to find a way how to do it; it is about organising it. Funding is involved if we are to mainstream it and make it bigger but… we are getting there,” he said.

Among the highlighted events are the Holi Festival of Colours and Diwali celebrations. Holi, an annual Hindu festival heralding the arrival of spring, was recently held at the Bandstand Lawns, Royal Botanical Gardens, St. Andrew, attracting over 1,000 attendees, a significant increase from previous years. High Commissioner Rungsung explained the decision to move the event from India House to Hope Gardens was to encourage broader participation.

Reflecting on the Diwali celebrations, which saw around 300 participants last November, High Commissioner Rungsung expressed gratitude to sponsors and the supportive Indian community in Jamaica.

Chair of Indology and Gandhian Studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Professor Balaganapathi Devarakonda, commended the unity displayed during the Holi festival, noting the enthusiasm among Jamaicans surpasses expectations, saying, “I find people here show more enthusiasm… once you come here and understand the philosophy behind it, obviously, it increases the levels of enthusiasm.”

Magnifying the regional significance of Holi, Guyanese attendee Mary Jones expressed joy in witnessing similar celebrations in Jamaica, reminiscing about the festive atmosphere in her homeland.

“This is what it would be like in Guyana. Everybody just comes together, brings the family out and has a good time and rubs powder on each other,” she noted “It is all part of the fun. I will definitely be back next year,” she added

With efforts to broaden engagement and foster cultural exchange, the Indian High Commission is ready to elevate the presence of Indian festivals in Jamaica, promising even grander celebrations moving forward.