Madagascar: Indian community in Antananarivo celebrates Diwali with religious fervour

Indian community celebrated Diwali with pomp and gaiety in Antananarivo. A string of cultural events were held to celebrate the auspicious festival. It included a fashion show, dance performances among others. Madagascar has a strong Indian community numbering about 17,500, mainly from Gujarat. They are settled in different parts of Madagascar and play a key role in supporting economy of Madagascar. A grand Hindu temple is under construction in Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo and is likely to be inaugurated in early 2022. India had sent 1000 tonnes of rice in March 2021 as humanitarian aid for the drought-affected south region of Madagascar.