Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar extended warm wishes on Eid ul-Adha on Thursday, 28 May 2026, calling on the festival to foster compassion, harmony and peace among all communities across the world.

Context

In a bilingual post on X, Dr. Jaishankar wrote in English: 'Eid Mubarak to all celebrating Eid ul-Adha across the world. May this festival foster compassion, harmony and peace.' The Hindi portion of the message — ईद उल-अधा की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। कामना है कि यह त्यौहार सभी के जीवन में करुणा, सद्भाव और शांति लाए। — translates as: 'Heartfelt greetings on Eid ul-Adha. May this festival bring compassion, harmony and peace to everyone's life.'

Eid ul-Adha, one of the two principal Islamic festivals, commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in submission to God's command. It is observed by Muslims worldwide through prayers, the ritual of sacrifice, and acts of charity and community sharing.

Policy Backdrop

Indian ministers and heads of government have maintained a long-standing tradition of issuing greetings on major religious occasions — including Eid, Diwali, Christmas, Guru Nanak Jayanti and others — as an expression of the country's secular ethos and multicultural fabric. For an External Affairs Minister, such messages carry an additional diplomatic dimension, signalling goodwill toward Muslim-majority nations and overseas Indian communities.

Dr. Jaishankar, who has served as India's Ambassador to the United States, China and Singapore before becoming Foreign Secretary and subsequently Union Minister of External Affairs from May 2019, has consistently used public platforms to reinforce India's commitment to pluralism and its engagement with the wider Islamic world, including key partners in the Gulf and West Asia.

Stakeholders and Impact

India is home to one of the world's largest Muslim populations, and the message resonates both domestically and internationally. The bilingual format — English and Hindi — reflects an intent to reach Indian communities at home as well as the global diaspora and partner nations.

Gulf countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait host millions of Indian workers and form the backbone of India's remittance economy. Diplomatic goodwill expressed through such gestures supports the broader framework of people-to-people ties that underpin bilateral relations with these nations.

What's Next

Festival greetings from senior ministers are typically followed by engagement with counterparts from Muslim-majority nations around major Islamic occasions. India's diplomatic calendar with Gulf and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) partner countries often sees enhanced activity in the weeks surrounding Eid ul-Adha. Similar outreach messages are expected around other upcoming festivals on the national calendar.

The message underscores New Delhi's continuing effort to position itself as a pluralist democracy with deep and respectful ties to Muslim communities both within its borders and across the world — a posture that remains central to India's foreign policy in the region.