Cork Diwali event sees launch of plan for Ireland's first Indian-Irish cultural centre

The news emerged as members of the city’s 5,000-strong Indian community gathered in Cork City Hall on Sunday to celebrate Diwali — India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year.

The festival of light celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and the start of new beginnings for millions of people of the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain faiths.

In India, homes and streets tend to be decorated with small oil lamps called “diyas”, with the light supposed to help Lakshmi — goddess of wealth and good fortune — find her way into people’s homes.

Homes are cleaned, new clothes are worn, and prayers are said. 

Outside their homes, people draw rangolis — traditional designs made using colourful powders — to bring good luck and positivity into their lives. 

People also visit friends and family, with sweets, gifts, and good wishes being exchanged. 

For those Indian people who have made Cork their home, Diwali was celebrated in Cork City Hall’s concert hall on Sunday, with a major cultural event.

Finance Minister Michael McGrath was among the guests who enjoyed a display of traditional Indian dance, and a performance by Anamika Chatterjee, a finalist in Indian Idol 6.

It has emerged that senior figures in the city’s Indian community have prepared a detailed vision document, setting out their proposals for the development of an Indian Irish cultural centre, in Cork.

It is hoped that such events could take place there in the future.

They have presented their document to Cork City Council.

A council spokesman confirmed that preliminary discussions have taken place.

It is understood the project, which would have to be self-financed, would include:

• A large “community” hall and play area;
• A cultural centre with capacity for 400-people and a performance space;
• Short-stay accommodation apartments for Indian students or medics who have arrived in Cork;
• And a purpose-built temple.

Kishore Doddakula, a clinical lead and consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Cork University Hospital (CUH), who is president of the India Éire Cultural Organisation, said they are planning big for the future.

“When I arrived in Ireland over 25 years ago, there were two mosques and today there are over 55. But there is still no Hindu temple, and there are about 5,000 Indian people living in Cork,” he said.

“But we would like this facility to be not just a place of worship for Hindus, but a place for all, for cultural exchange where we could learn from each other and share cultures, run Yoga, and teach cooking classes.”

The project would require up to five acres. Any development would require a planning application and a grant of planning.