Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
On Sunday 13 September 2026, the Indian Association Luxembourg (IAL) organised the eleventh edition of India Day at Place Guillaume II (Knuedler) in Luxembourg-Ville, welcoming hundreds of visitors of different nationalities.
The festival featured more than 20 stands, including Indian food, artwork and community stalls, as well as activities for families and visitors of all ages.
Despite changing weather conditions throughout the day, the festival was well attended. Some members of the Indian community had travelled from neighbouring countries specifically for the festival, while visitors of various other nationalities also joined the celebrations.
The programme on the main stage began with children performing a traditional Indian devotional verse, followed by Bollywood dance performances. DJ Desi provided music during breaks between performances.
During the official part of the programme, IAL representatives noted that the association is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year and unveiled a special anniversary T-shirt. They also thanked the City of Luxembourg (Ville de Luxembourg - VdL) for its continued support.
Shortly after 12:00, the festival welcomed several political and diplomatic guests, including: Claude Wiseler, President of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies; Pranay Verma, Ambassador of India to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union (EU); Minister for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees Max Hahn; Luxembourg City First Alderman Maurice Bauer; and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Xavier Bettel.
The officials first took a stroll around the festival area, stopping at several stands to meet vendors, sample Indian food specialities and take photographs. They also greeted visitors and engaged in informal chats with members of the community, before joining the organisers on the stage.
Ambassador Verma described India Day as a celebration of India's cultural diversity and highlighted the growing relationship between India and Luxembourg in areas ranging from trade and investment to finance, technology, space and innovation. He said the festival offered Luxembourg residents a window onto India's cultural heritage and helped build a "cultural bridge" between the two countries.
Minister Hahn meanwhile highlighted Luxembourg's multicultural population, noting that around 6,000 Indian nationals live in the country and that its residents represent some 170 nationalities. He encouraged members of different communities to engage with one another beyond their own circles, saying: "That's how living together can work."
First Alderman Bauer noted that more than 71% of the capital's population is non-Luxembourgish. Addressing members of the international community, he said: "You are part of the richness of this country. You are part of this diversity of this country, of this city."
Minister Bettel added that Indians now form Luxembourg's tenth-largest foreign community and its largest non-EU foreign population. He also revealed that Luxembourg is working towards a possible state visit to India in 2027 and said discussions were underway with the Indian authorities about opening an Indian embassy in Luxembourg. "We know you are bigger than we are but together we are even bigger and we will make bigger things together," he concluded.
Following the visit of the officials, the programme continued with Punjabi Dhol music, mehendi (henna art), Indian music and performances by a Luxembourgish-Indian band.
