At his favourite Diwali party of the season – an event where the Indian Embassy staff invite their German colleagues – Ambassador Philipp Ackermann meets us. Complimenting the staff on the colourful rangoli and festive decorations, he poses near the selfie booth. “The nice thing about Diwali is you have lots of parties. And this one’s my favourite. It’s a wonderful tradition, and it gets more lavish every year. Everybody dresses up, there’s food and dancing. And you know the Germans… They are a little hesitant at the beginning but Indians pull them to the dance floor in no time!” says the Ambassador.‘Indians are very generous people’Over the years, the generosity and warmth of Indians have stood out to the Ambassador as defining features of the festival. “Diwali is a wonderful festival because it’s not only the beautiful decorations and the generous gifts, but it’s also about partying together. It’s the big togetherness. And Indians are very generous people.When we have our togetherness on Christmas, it’s very intimate. It’s the family coming together. But here, people invite you generously to their homes, and they open their homes to you, and you have a great experience. People show the most wonderful hospitality. And it has a very magical touch; it’s a very beautiful festival,” he tells us.‘Everybody loves Bollywood and dancing’Speaking about how the festive spirit is spreading to his home country, Ambassador Ackermann points out, “Germany, with a growing Indian community, is getting more into the Diwali mode. And I think we’ll also see more Diwali parties. So, India has the reputation of being a party country in Germany. That comes from Bollywood, of course, and dancing. And I think in the bigger cities (in Germany), where you have a solid Indian community, Diwali shines way outside the community too. I think it becomes more and more a part of our daily life in some aspects as well.” He adds that openness and inclusivity lie at the heart of the festival’s charm. “When you’re in for a good party that’s already inclusive. I think the inclusivity comes through reaching out to the foreigners – ‘Come and share the joy and our happiness about this festival, and be part of it.’”
