King's Day celebrated with a pop of orange
Marigolds and Dutch delicacies welcomed guests as they arrived to mark King's Day at the
Netherlands Embassy
.
Ministry of External Affairs
Secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal was the chief guest at the event, where cellist and music composer
Saskia Rao-de Haas
was conferred the
Dutch royal honour
– the Ridder in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau, awarded by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
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KING'S DAY SERVES AS A REFLECTION ON OUR HERITAGE: DUTCH AMBASSADOR
Dutch Ambassador Marisa Gerards
began by paying tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror at tack. 'We were all shocked by the horrific attack in Kashmir, and we offer our heartfelt condolences to the government and people of India. Our thoughts are with the victims, and our thoughts are with their loved ones,' she said.
During the event, she shared the significance of the day for the Dutch community.
'King's Day is not only about festivity – it also serves as a reflection of our heritage, our values, and the unity that binds us as a nation. It is the day when people bake, there's a lot of music and games – and lots of orange.'
Tanmaya Lal shared that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was due to attend the event but could not due to unforeseen circumstances. 'India and the Netherlands' ties are intensifying across many fields, led by high-level engagement that continues to grow in frequency,' he added.
Orange is the new black
Following the dress code, guests arrived in their finest orange ensembles. From shoes to saris and turbans — with some carrying orange stoles — attendees followed the theme to the T. The Dutch Ambassador also wore an orange Indian jacket with intricate designs.
Saskia Rao-de Haas and her husband Shubhendra Rao performed at the event. Saskia said, 'I am honoured to receive this recognition... Music has been my lifelong passion and a bridge between our two nations (Netherlands and India).
I am so fortunate that my journey is a joint one that I have taken together with my husband'
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