An evening of culture, color, and connection brings the spirit of India’s Festival of Lights to Manila, celebrating traditions, friendship, and the beauty of coming together.
I’ve long been fascinated by Indian culture. A trip to India has occupied a place on my bucket list for years, and while I wait for that particular dream to materialize, I’ll gladly take whatever slice of the subcontinent finds its way to Manila.
And what a slice it was.
On November 2, Okada Manila held its first-ever Diwali celebration, transforming the gaming area’s Coral Lounge into a lively gathering that brought together members of the Indian community, distinguished guests, business partners, and friends for an evening of cultural discovery and conviviality. Aptly titled Diwali: Lights of Home, the celebration was an engaging introduction to one of India’s most cherished festivals, while making a commendable gesture toward bridging cultures and nurturing friendships.
The deeper meaning behind the glow
Diwali, or Deepavali, is widely known as the Festival of Lights. Observed across India and by Indian communities around the world, it carries different stories and traditions across regions and faiths, but its enduring themes are remarkably universal: light overcoming darkness, good triumphing over evil, and knowledge dispelling ignorance. For many, it is also a time of renewal, new beginnings, gratitude, and gathering with family and friends.
And here’s a little detail worth knowing: Diwali isn’t just one evening of festivities. It’s traditionally celebrated over five days, with each day carrying its own significance. The dates also shift annually, following the Hindu lunar calendar.
In other words, there’s rather more to Diwali than the pretty business of lighting lamps.
It’s a celebration of hope and human connection, too, making it an especially meaningful occasion to bring people together, even far from home. That sentiment was woven into the evening, which welcomed His Excellency Shri Harsh Kumar Jain, Ambassador of India to the Philippines, together with his wife, Shrimati Vandana Jain, and their family. A ceremonial garland presentation to the Ambassador and flowers for his wife offered a traditional gesture of warmth, respect, and friendship.
India, in all its rhythmic glory
If the evening had a passport, it would have been stamped several times over. The performances offered glimpses into India’s regional diversity, a reminder that this vast country is hardly a cultural monolith. The festivities began with an energetic dhol welcome parade by Desi Matters, whose exuberant drumming set the tone for the evening.
The Bhangra performance brought the spirited rhythms of Punjab and North India to the fore. Traditionally associated with harvest celebrations, Bhangra is an exuberant folk dance characterized by vigorous movements and infectious energy. It is difficult to watch without feeling at least a little tempted to join in.
Naachography followed with a colorful showcase inspired by the festivals and folk traditions of West India, while a separate presentation highlighted the diverse communities and cultural heritage of Northeast India. Together, the performances offered a tantalizing glimpse into the country’s many traditions, each with its own rhythms, movements, and visual vocabulary.
The Okada Manila Entertainment Group also delivered an opening performance, while Rav Singh of Desi Matters kept the atmosphere lively throughout the evening with a couple of DJ sets.
What made the program particularly enjoyable was its sense of movement, taking guests from one cultural expression to another without losing sight of the evening’s central theme: celebration and togetherness.
A little spice, a little sweet, a lot to eat
Naturally, no cultural excursion would be complete without food. The specially curated buffet gave Indian flavors a creative spin, bringing together familiar culinary influences and playful interpretations.
Among the featured dishes were crispy pani puri with Indian-spiced mango salsa, Chettinad prawns in coconut curry, tandoori chicken sushi rolls with spicy chili glaze, lamb galawati kebabs with mint yogurt, and steamed cupao filled with creamy murgh makhani.
Being someone who doesn’t eat meat, I naturally gravitated toward the meat-free offerings, particularly the pani puri and Indian masala vegetable burger. It’s always nice when a buffet makes room for diners like me without relegating vegetarian choices to an afterthought. The spread also featured other meat-free accompaniments and vegetable-based selections, adding a little more variety to the experience.
And then there were the desserts, which were a visual feast in their own right: gulab jamun choux, saffron white chocolate macarons, mango lassi éclairs, and cardamom pistachio tartelettes.
A little Indian spice, a little French-inspired finesse, and plenty of color made for a rather enticing culinary spread.
Good fortune, with a side of wanderlust
There were, of course, a few additional reasons for guests to stay through the evening. Two raffle draws each awarded five winners PHP10,000 worth of Free Play, while the grand prize, courtesy of Air India, was a round-trip airline ticket to New Delhi. For one fortunate guest, the evening’s cultural journey could well become a real one.
The celebration was organized with the Indian Cultural Association of the Philippines (ICAP) as its official cultural partner, alongside event partners Shroff Travel, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), and Air India.
When cultures find common ground
Ultimately, Diwali: Lights of Home not only recreated the sights and sounds of an Indian celebration, it also shared the stories, traditions, and cultural expressions behind it—all while giving the Indian community in Manila a gathering that felt connected to home.
Fun fact: there’s also something rather fitting about celebrating a festival of lights at Okada Manila. The resort is home to its spectacular multicolor dancing Fountain, which spans 37,464 square meters, an attraction the property describes as the world’s largest of its kind. A fitting bit of venue trivia for an evening devoted to light, movement, and spectacle.
For the rest of us, the celebration offered a welcome window into a culture that is as vast as it is fascinating. A single evening can hardly do justice to a country as culturally and historically rich as India, but it can certainly whet one’s appetite for more.
#Diwali #DiwaliCelebration #IndianCulture #IndiaInManila #CrossCultural #FestivalOfLights #OkadaManila #ExpatPH #ExpatPhilippines India in Philippines (Embassy of India, Manila)
