Images of India’s ambassador, Devyani Khobragade, dressed as an “Apsara” in traditional Cambodian clothing, were recently posted by the Indian Embassy in Cambodia. To wish Cambodians a happy Khmer New Year, the Indian diplomat disguised herself as a “Khmer Apsara.”
The Indian Embassy Tweets
“Devyani Khobragade, the ambassador, has a great respect for Khmer customs and culture. She wore a beautiful Khmer Apsara outfit in celebration of the holiday, evoking the close relationship between our two cultures. The Indian Embassy in Cambodia posted on X (previously Twitter) to wish all of its friends in Cambodia a happy Khmer New Year celebration.
Ambassador Devyani Khobragade has a deep admiration for Khmer culture and tradition. Embracing the spirit of Khmer New Year, she elegantly dressed as a Khmer Apsara, embodying the rich bond of our civilizations. Wishing all our 🇰🇭 friends a joyous Khmer New Year celebration pic.twitter.com/5SfQ42g5ln
— India in Cambodia (@indembcam) April 13, 2024
The ambassador is featured in the pictures wearing traditional Cambodian clothing, as portrayed in mythology and old Khmer art. She accessorized it with a headpiece, traditional Khmer sampot, or wrap-around skirt, and traditional golden jewelry.
Who Is Devyani Khobragade?
Devyani Khobragade, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 1999 batch, has worked for India as a diplomat at embassies in Berlin, New York, Rome, and Islamabad. For all the wrong reasons, Devyani Khobragade’s diplomatic posting in New York brought her into the public eye. She was taken into custody on suspicion of obtaining a fraudulent visa and making “false” statements.
On December 12, 2013, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) filed charges against Devyani Khobragade. Devyani Khobragade was also accused in a different scandal of paying her domestic help less than the US minimum wage. She refuted the accusations, calling them “false and baseless,” nevertheless. A US judge later dropped the accusations, claiming diplomatic immunity.
When India rejected America’s plea to lift her diplomatic immunity at the time, she took a plane back to her native country.
The dispute over Devyani Khobragade caused a rough patch in the diplomatic relations between the US and India, as New Delhi reduced the privileges of some US diplomats stationed there. In response, the United States withdrew one of its diplomats from the nation.
Happy Cambodian New Year!
Typically, Khmer New Year, sometimes referred to as Cambodian New Year, is observed as a three-day public holiday. It is known as “Chaul Chnam Thmey” in Khmer, which translates to “enter the new year.” The festivities, which take place on April 13 or 14, are based on the custom of the Solar New Year. It signals the conclusion of the harvest and the start of the rainy season in Cambodia.
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