The Embassy of India in Turkmenistan organized a live broadcast of the opening of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. The event, held at the embassy in Ashgabat, was attended by representatives of the Indian diaspora, embassy officials and the media.

The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is being held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha this year. It was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. More than two thousand representatives of the Indian diaspora from 50 countries attended the event. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the first run of the “Pravasi Bharatiya Express”, a special tourist train for the Indian diaspora.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non-Resident Indian Day) is observed in India on January 9 to commemorate the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of the country. The day honours Indians who have elevated the name of India beyond the borders. These gatherings serve as a platform to inform the people of India about the achievements of the diaspora, their role in establishing cordial relations with other countries, and to establish contacts among the overseas Indian communities themselves.

The date of January 9 was not chosen by chance. It was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, returning to India from South Africa, led the fight for freedom and changed the lives of Indians forever.

About a hundred representatives of the Indian diaspora live and work in Turkmenistan, engaged in the textile industry, oil and gas sector and entrepreneurship. Ambassador of India to Turkmenistan Madhumita Hazarika Bhagat noted that the Indian people highly value the connection with their compatriots who have become citizens of other countries and contribute to the development of the countries that have accepted them as their second homeland.