High Commission of India on 14 January organized a series of events to mark the onset of the four-day harvest festival in India. The harvest festival is celebrated across the length and breadth of India and is known by different names in different parts of the country. Members of the Indian diaspora in Brunei enthusiastically participated in all the events. The festival marks the celebration of a new crop for the spring season with a hope for good health and prosperity for everyone and signifies the start of the year on a note of hope, love, and togetherness. The harvest festival heralds a change in season as from this day the Sun begins its movement from Southern to Northern hemisphere. The festivities started with the Indian community joining hands in making colorful Rangolis (artistic portrayal of a medley of colors) at 4 different locations in the Bandar area. Later in the day, High Commissioner launched two books, namely, ‘Soft Computing Techniques in Solid Waste’ and ‘Wastewater Management & Green Technologies for the Defluoridaton of Water’, authored by Dr. Rama Rao Karri, Sr. Assistant Professor, Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB). Children and adults later participated in a kite-flying event at Mahkota Jubli Emas Park, Brunei Darussalam. The kite-flying event represents vibrancy, diversity, and a desire to aim higher in life with the confidence to successfully overcome the challenges which come in its path. The High Commissioner of India, His Excellency Ajaneesh Kumar, as a guest of honor, wished everyone good health, success, and prosperity. The event was part of the year-long celebrations of India’s 75th year of Independence, “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”. Traditional snacks and savories were distributed to the participants of the events.