Seychelles-India Day starts maiden voyage |04 October 2013

Some of the guests are already here and others are expected to arrive this morning for the inaugural Seychelles-India Day which begins today.

The official opening of the three-day manifestation (October 4-6) is slated for 7pm at the International Conference Centre (ICCS), but in the morning there will be music and dance workshops at

the ICCS from 11am to 1pm. At 10am is the opening of the Seychelles-Indo exhibition in the ICCS lobby followed from 3pm to 11pm with the Indian fun fair international in the ICCS car park.

The activities will continue on Saturday and Sunday and the last activity on the packed programme of the three-day extravaganza showcasing Indian talent and culture is an open air gala evening at

the Freedom Square with Indian star choreographer Terrence Lewis and other Indian Bollywood stars.

The guest of honour is superstar and heart-throb R. Madhavan, a unique movie star who has delivered several blockbuster hits in both Bollywood and the South Indian movies. He will be here as part

of a 50+ Indian entourage visiting Seychelles for the Seychelles-India Day.
 
Others include top master chef Sanjeev Kapoor, top percussionist Sivamani, female Bollywood vocalist Akritti Kakar, Bollywood actresses Shazahn Padamsee and Anjana Sukhani, male Bollywood

vocalist Benny Dayal, fashion designer Mayyur Girotra, flautist Naveen Kumar, classical musician Tanmoy Bose and Ms Universe India Ushoshi Sengupta.

In his message for the first Seychelles-India Day, Indian high commissioner Thanglura Darlong writes:

“On its maiden voyage, the three days of celebrations ornamented with celebrities from Indian tinsel town, culinary and music, and events such as workshops on dance, music and food, exhibitions,

musical evening, film shows and gala night of 100 years on Indian cinema, will not only re-emphasise the cultural alignment of the two nations, but also take entertainment to a new level.”

Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange said the event is giving due recognition to the contributions made by the Indian community towards the building process of our nation.

“The rich, cultural diversity of Seychelles that generated from the early settlers is truly represented by its people. This first Seychelles-India day celebrations is doing justice to our

historical links and it fits well in the series of national events we organise and promote,” said Minister St Ange.

The relationship between Seychelles and India has been characterised as one of close friendship, understanding and cooperation.

India established diplomatic ties with Seychelles after the island nation got its independence in 1976, and in 1979 an Indian mission was set up in Victoria with the high commissioner, Aditya

Narajan Dhairyasheel Haksar, based in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, concurrently accredited to Seychelles.

The first resident high commissioner, Chokila Iyer, was placed in Victoria in 1987, while Seychelles opened its resident mission in New Delhi in early 2008 with Dick Esparon as its first high

commissioner. Waven William was appointed as Seychelles’ high commissioner to India in February 2012.

However, the links between the two countries date as far back as Brayer du Barre’s first true settlement in Seychelles on Ste Anne island in 1770. Indians were among the first few nations to

immigrate to the islands and subsequently founded the Seychelles population. The first five who settled on Ste Anne in 1770 came as labourers and originated from the Malabar coast of India.

Their names were Charvy, Moulia, Meinatte, Corinthe, and Domingue.

Following further successive migrations, Indian integration into Seychelles’ society has been rather remarkable such that it is believed that more than 82% of the Seychelles population has some

Indian roots. Moreover, the organisation of the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam in 1984, the consecration in May 1992 of the Navasakhti Vinayagar temple – the one and only Hindu temple in

Seychelles, and the celebration of the Taippoosam kavadi festival which was first instigated in 1993, were landmarks for the resurgence of Indian cultural activities in Seychelles. Interestingly,

the kavadi has gained so much popularity as a national festival that in 1998 the Seychelles government declared it a holiday for Hindus.