Bahrain marks Diwali with resolute commitment to religious freedom

By Habib Toumi

Manama: Bahrain, an overwhelming Muslim country, has kept up its tradition of sharing the celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, with Hindu families living in the country.

On Sunday evening, Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the eldest son of Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, visited the Thaker, Vaidya, Asarpota, Bhatia, and Kewalram families to mark Diwali and conveyed them the greetings and congratulations of the royal family.

In his talks, Shaikh Isa stressed that, in line with the vision of King Hamad, Bahrain has reinforced its position as a role model for coexistence and cultural diversity.

Bahrain has long promoted such noble principles and has invariably maintained that cultural dialogue encourages development and consolidates harmony among communities.

Bahrain, a small island kingdom in the Gulf, is home to communities from more than 160 countries. The country has a large number of mosques, churches, Hindu temples, a synagogue and other places of worship.

Hindus traditionally celebrate Diwali with open enthusiasm, treating it as a special occasion to keep their culture and traditions alive.

“Bahrain’s tireless efforts to consolidate a culture of mutual respect with a range of far-reaching initiatives designed to promote the values of coexistence and moderation globally,” Shaikh Isa said.

He paid special tribute to the role played by the Thaker, Vaidya, Asarpota, Bhatia, and Kewalram families in supporting Bahrain’s social and economic development.

The families expressed their gratitude for the Crown Prince’s greetings and Shaikh Isa’s visit on the occasion of Diwali and their appreciation of Bahrain’s commitment to the values of coexistence and diversity.