BAPS Diwali Celebrations Illuminate Eindhoven as Indian PM Strengthens Ties with Netherlands
The Indian and South Asian community in the Netherlands marked the Diwali and Hindu New Year season through BAPS-organized celebrations in Eindhoven, reflecting the vitality of diaspora religious life in the city. At the diplomatic level, India's prime minister visited the Netherlands on a formal state visit that included a meeting with senior Dutch officials, underscoring the strengthening ties between the two countries.
🎉 BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Brings Diwali and Annakut Celebrations to Eindhoven
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha organized Diwali and Hindu New Year Annakut celebrations in Eindhoven, Netherlands, bringing together members of the local Hindu and South Asian diaspora community for one of the most significant festivals in the Hindu calendar. The event was coordinated through BAPS's UK and Europe network, which supports Hindu communities in diaspora settings across the continent. BAPS, formally known as Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha, is one of the world's largest Hindu organizations, operating a global network of temples, cultural centers, and community programs that serve Swaminarayan faith communities. Annakut, observed the day after Diwali, is a tradition in which an abundance of food items are offered to the deity as an act of devotion and thanksgiving, with the name translating roughly to mountain of food. Eindhoven's Indian and Surinamese-Hindustani community, though smaller than those in Amsterdam or Rotterdam, maintains an active religious and cultural life, and events organized by institutions such as BAPS provide opportunities for community members to observe their faith and sustain connections to South Asian traditions. Diwali celebrations in the Netherlands represent an important occasion for Hindu families to gather, light diyas, share sweets and meals, and mark the new year together, reinforcing community bonds and cultural heritage across generations living in the Netherlands. [1]
🗳️ Indian Prime Minister Meets Dutch Officials Including Jetten on Netherlands State Visit
India's prime minister undertook a formal state visit to the Netherlands, meeting with Dutch government officials including Rob Jetten, DutchNews.nl reported in May 2026. The high-level diplomatic engagement between the Indian head of government and senior Dutch officials underscores the deepening bilateral relationship between the two countries, which have maintained strong trade, technology, and diplomatic ties for decades. The Netherlands is an important European partner for India, and state visits by Indian leaders to European capitals are significant diplomatic occasions that typically address trade agreements, investment, technology cooperation, and geopolitical matters of mutual concern. For the Indian diaspora and Surinamese-Hindustani community living in the Netherlands, including in cities such as Eindhoven, Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam, high-profile diplomatic visits by Indian leaders carry both political and symbolic significance, affirming the prominence of India on the world stage. Rob Jetten has served as a senior Dutch government minister. DutchNews.nl, the Netherlands' principal English-language news outlet, covered the state visit for the international community residing in the country, including the sizable Indian expat population. The visit reflects India's growing global stature and its active engagement with European partners at the highest levels of government, as well as the enduring importance of the India-Netherlands relationship for the Indian-origin communities that live and work across the Netherlands. [2]
Sources: [1] BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha · [2] DutchNews.nl