The Embassy of India in Rabat hosted a major cultural celebration on Wednesday at the historic Chellah Archaeological Site, marking the recent inscription of “Deepavali – Festival of Lights” onto UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The event, held in partnership with Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication and the Rabat Region Historical Heritage Company (RRPH), carried added significance this year as UNESCO also inscribed the iconic Moroccan Caftan on the same global heritage list.
India, which currently chairs the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee, strongly supported Morocco’s nomination of the Caftan, a gesture described by both sides as an expression of cultural solidarity and deepening friendship between New Delhi and Rabat.
Senior officials from the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Director Omar Kadiri, attended the ceremony. In his remarks, Kadiri noted that the simultaneous recognition of Deepavali and the Moroccan Caftan underscores how cultural traditions can forge “bridges of mutual respect, understanding, and shared global heritage.”
India’s Ambassador to Morocco, Sanjay Rana, described the occasion as “a landmark moment for India and Morocco,” emphasizing that the inscription of two culturally profound traditions on the same day reflects not only bilateral cooperation but also the broader global value of both heritages.
The celebration featured vibrant Indian music and dance performances, complemented by Moroccan artists who joined in by performing to popular Indian songs, symbolizing the growing cultural harmony between the two nations. The event brought together friends of India in Morocco, members of the Indian community, Moroccan influencers, senior officials, and invited guests.
A symbolic lighting of diyas—traditional oil lamps—by Ambassador Rana, Moroccan dignitaries, and attendees highlighted Deepavali’s universal message of the triumph of light over darkness.
According to the Embassy, the dual celebration marks an important step in strengthening people-to-people ties and expanding cultural cooperation between India and Morocco. It also reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to preserving intangible heritage and promoting cultural diversity on the global stage.
