In 2026, Diwali took on special significance due to the celebration of the India-Spain Dual Year. To mark this, the Indian Culture Centre Foundation and the Telugu Association of Barcelona highlighted several cultural practices shared by both countries. This included the photographic exhibition “Human Towers and Mosaics of Light,” which draws parallels between India’s Govindas and Catalonia’s Castellers two traditions that illustrate how no one reaches the summit alone, as well as between India’s Thikri (mirror-inlay work) and the Catalan Trencadís (mosaic technique), both of which share the philosophy that beauty emerges from fragments. The event began with an offering to the deities, followed by the ceremonial lighting of a traditional oil lamp by Senator Robert Masih Nahar and the Consul General of India in Barcelona, Inbasekar Sundaramurthi. The music and dance festival opened with a vibrant Bollywood-style performance by women from the Telugu Association of Barcelona. Next, Catalan dancer Núria Cabo and two of her students performed a guru vandana (a tribute to the teacher), followed by a selection of classical Kathak dance pieces presented by Cabo herself. Another cultural parallel was showcased through stick dances: the group Dancing Ganesh performed Dandiya, while the Colla Bastonera Les Romanes presented the Catalan Ball de Bastons (stick dance), concluding with a surprise performance that adapted Indian music for the traditional Catalan dance. To close the event, the Dancing Ganesh group returned to the stage with an energetic Bollywood performance, featuring the song “Señorita” from the film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Finally, the children enjoyed lighting sparklers with their families, and everyone received traditional Diwali sweets.
