Festivals are intricately woven into the Indian tapestry and way of life. It is often said, Indians do not need a reason to celebrate, and this adage rings true ascribable to the festivities around the year in every nook and corner of the country. Each festival serves as an identity for the region or community they are celebrated in, but the festival that is celebrated across communities and perhaps serves as our national identity is Diwali. Not only does it celebrate the coming home of Lord Ram and the victory of good over evil, it also denotes the struggle that our pure soul has with our egos and tribulations. It reminds us to strive to conquer them before we meet our maker. The Indian community in Cork has been celebrating Diwali with great fervor and reverence for the past many years. The celebrations promote inclusivity and harmony and serve as a platform to not only showcase new and emerging talent but also meet new people and renew ties with old ones. The motto of the organizers has been semper ad Meliora et majora, “always towards better and greater things”. Diwali 2023 was bigger and better in a multitude of ways. It boasted of the highest ever attendance for any community event and a record number of performances. The event held in the beautiful setting of Cork city hall was destined to succeed from its inception. The city hall lit in the Indian national colors with the tricolor fluttering atop and the halls decked up in traditional Diwali imagery, provided the setting for a night of fun, food, and laughter. We were fortunate to have the Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork and the Minister of Finance in our midst to join the celebration. The attendees dressed in their traditional best and the myriad colors on display complemented the grandeur of the city hall. The highlight of the evening was the “Enchanting India” ramp walk. Dressed in traditional attire representing the different states of the Indian sub-continent, our models sashayed down the ramp, encouraged by the thunderous applause and encouragement from the audience. The evening flowed seamlessly with each performer raising the bar, receiving rapturous applause from the audience. Indian celebrations cannot be complete without food. The desi fare apportioned was finger-licking and lip-smacking good. It was late when the event ended but not before some Bollywood dancing with the DJ playing popular tunes to the delight of the audience. The event was a resounding success, and the organizers would like to take this opportunity to thank each one of you for your support and encouragement.