
Embassy marks Republic Day of India
MUSCAT: Embassy of India hosted a grand reception to celebrate the 76th Republic Day of India at its premises on Monday. The event witnessed an enthusiastic participation of over 1,000 attendees, including distinguished Ambassadors, Defense Attachés, Diplomats, and esteemed members of the Omani and Indian community.
Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion of Oman, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. He was accompanied by an official high-level delegation from the Sultanate of Oman. Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, was the Special Guest for the occasion. Goyal is on an official visit to Oman to co-chair the 11th India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting with Al Yousef.
Goyal, in his remarks, spoke about India's extraordinary progress under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasised India's growing global stature and highlighted the partnership between India and Oman as a shining example of collaboration.
In his address, Amit Narang, Ambassador of India to Oman, highlighted the remarkable progress in India-Oman relations post-pandemic. He referred to the landmark visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to India, Oman's active participation in the G20 under India's Presidency, and the rapid growth in bilateral trade, defense cooperation, cultural collaboration, and people-to-people ties.
The cultural highlight of the evening was a unique musical performance titled 'Sur Sandook', a vibrant India-Oman jukebox. This performance featured the skilled Omani violinist Nasser al Kindi alongside the Team Melam Muscat, whose energetic Chenda Melam celebrated Kerala's cultural richness. Together, they delivered enthralling renditions of popular Indian songs, leaving the audience captivated.
A specially designed selfie zone featuring life-sized replicas of India's iconic landmarks like the Konark Wheel and Hawa Mahal offered the participants an opportunity to capture the spirit of India's rich heritage.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Muscat Daily
12 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
H M congratulates Saudi King on success of haj
Muscat – His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Sunday sent a cable of congratulations to the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Prince Mohammed bin Salman al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, on the success of haj season. In the cable, His Majesty the Sultan lauded the great efforts exerted by the Saudi government every year in serving the pilgrims and providing all necessary conditions and services for the smooth, safe and easy performance of the haj pilgrimage. His Majesty prayed to the Almighty Allah to grant Saudi Arabia permanent success in organising the performance of this sacred duty in the most perfect manner. Exchange of greetings His Majesty the Sultan exchanged Eid al Adha greetings over a phone call on Sunday with President Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation, and Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. His Majesty the Sultan expressed his sincere sentiments and best wishes of good health and happiness to Abbas and Sharif. He also wished the people of both the countries further progress and prosperity. In reciprocation, the Palestinian President expressed his heartfelt sentiments and best wishes of good health and happiness to His Majesty the Sultan. He prayed to Allah the Almighty for the return of this occasion on His Majesty at a time he has achieved more progress and prosperity for the Omani people. The Prime Minister of Pakistan too expressed his heartfelt sentiments and best wishes of good health and happiness to His Majesty, praying to Allah the Almighty for the return of this occasion on His Majesty for many years to come.


Muscat Daily
12 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
Omani pavilion wins award at London Design Biennale
Muscat – Oman's pavilion – titled 'Memory Grid' – has won the Best Design Award at the opening of the London Design Biennale 2025 last week. The recognition marks a significant achievement for the sultanate in its debut participation at the global cultural platform. The pavilion has been designed by multidisciplinary artist Haitham al Busafi and curated by the Zawraq Collective. Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the project reflects the ministry's broader efforts to promote artistic and intellectual creativity among Omani youth. Haitham al Busafi 'Memory Grid' explores the ideas of memory, value and preservation in a fast-changing world. Visitors are invited to observe how perception shifts with perspective, with meaning transforming depending on how closely or distantly the work is viewed. Drawing inspiration from Oman's pottery traditions, the installation reimagines ancient clay vessels – once vital for carrying water and connecting communities – as symbols of cultural memory. The pavilion presents these traditional forms as metaphors for protecting what is valued, both in the past and present. In a modern context, the installation proposes that data is the new essential resource – requiring safeguarding much like water once did. Through the immersive experience, visitors are encouraged to reflect on how heritage, knowledge and identity are passed through generations. The project represents how traditional symbols can guide modern questions about preservation. The win at the biennale highlights Oman's increasing engagement with contemporary art and design on a global stage. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth said the pavilion represents the strategic direction to elevate creative output by young Omanis to international platforms.


Times of Oman
18 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Who can become an Omani citizen?
To become an Omani citizen, an applicant must meet specific requirements and follow the procedures established by law. Speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman, a representative of Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm, a leading law office in Oman, explained that applicants must fulfill strict eligibility criteria based on their category. For general foreigners, this includes legally residing in Oman for at least 15 consecutive years, fluency in reading and writing Arabic, proof of good conduct, a stable income, and a formal renunciation of any existing foreign nationality. Spouses of Omani citizens follow different rules. A foreign husband of an Omani woman must have been married for at least 10 years, have at least one child with his spouse, and meet the residency and language requirements. A foreign wife of an Omani man must demonstrate eight years of marriage, have one child, and be fluent in spoken Arabic, said Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Zadjali, Founding Partner of Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm. Widows and divorcees of Omani nationals have shorter residency requirements (six years for widows, eight years for divorcees), provided they have a child from the marriage and have not remarried a non-Omani. Children of Omani mothers may also qualify under specific circumstances involving custody and residency, the founding partner said. Another spokesperson from the law firm explained that applicants for Omani citizenship must provide various documents, including proof of residency, marriage or birth certificates, health clearance, income statements, and a written pledge to renounce other nationalities. These documents are submitted to the Ministry of Interior, which holds full authority over decisions and is not obligated to provide reasons for rejection. Citizenship matters are handled solely by the Ministry and cannot be challenged in Court. Approval is granted by Royal Decree, based on the recommendation of the Minister of Interior. Dual citizenship is rarely permitted. Once approved, citizenship is permanent unless revoked for fraud or national security concerns. Children automatically qualify through their Omani father, the expert said. (Mohammed Ibrahim Law Firm ([email protected]), (+968 244 87 600) was established 18 years ago and is serving clients through its offices in Muscat and Sohar, as well as operating on a request basis in other areas. It offers legal representation across a wide range of practice areas that include Labour Law, Corporate, Commercial, Contracts, Banking and Finance, International Trade, Foreign Investment, Insurance, Maritime Law, Construction and Engineering Contracts, International Arbitration, Intellectual Property and more).