Huge Diwali party at Dubai Festival City – in pictures

Around 3.3 million Indians call the UAE home

Nyree McFarlane
Oct 26, 2019
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An estimated 3.3 million Indians live in the UAE, making the Emirates home to the largest Indian expatriate community in the world.

On Thursday night, Dubai Festival City (in collaboration with Dubai Tourism and the Indian Consulate) put on a huge Diwali party to celebrate the strong Indian community in the UAE.

It is estimated that around 30,000 visitors came to the event, where a DJ played Bollywood hits from across the bay, and Indian dancers took to the stage.

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A group of colourful dancers from the Kumari Shiksha Dance Institution light colourful clay lamps in preparation to celebrate Diwali during the two day Diwali (Festival of Lights) Hindu festival celebrations at the old Drive-Inn in Durban, on October 19, 2019. The two-day festival attracts over 100,000 visitors. The festival celebrations include, parading of floats, chariots, singing of devotional songs, dances, games, face painting, food stalls of vegetarian food, clothing, display of toys and jewellery. Young people also get the opportunity to showcase their cultural and spiritual talents. A billion Hindus worlwide will officially celebrate Diwali on 27 October 2019. / AFP / Rajesh JANTILAL
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The night also marked the launch of the latest installment of the Imagine light, laser and water show, this one called Hathi's Garden. If you missed it, not to worry: the show will be on display until November 29, showing every night after dark.

Also on display until November 29 is the Elephant Parade: a global social enterprise initiative that is the world’s largest art exhibition of decorated elephant statues, which have been created in collaboration with artists and celebrities. The initiative travels around the world and aims to raise money and awareness for elephant conservation.

Back to the Thursday night party, videos of the Dubai Police Band playing the Indian national anthem at the event have been shared widely on social media throughout the weekend:

And the consul general of India's official Twitter account shared this video showing the Hathi's Garden show, which features laser light elephants being uncharacteristically lightfooted and walking across water:

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