Indian embassy hosts reception to mark Republic Day
Muscat: Embassy of India hosted a grand reception on 27 January 2025 to celebrate the 76th Republic Day of India.
The event witnessed an enthusiastic participation of over 1,000 attendees, including distinguished ambassadors, defence attachés, diplomats, and esteemed members of the Omani and Indian community.
Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. He was accompanied by an official high-level delegation from the Sultanate of Oman.
The embassy was deeply honoured to have Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, as the Special Guest for the occasion.
Piyush Goyal is on an official visit to Oman to co-chair the 11th India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting with Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef.
Piyush 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 the Sultanate of 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, defence 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.
The 76th Republic Day celebration truly reflected India's cultural richness and the enduring friendship between India and Oman.
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