The Indian Ambassador to Ireland has said there is widespread concern and fear amongst the Indian community in Ireland, following what he described as recurrent and brutal attacks in recent weeks.
Speaking to journalists at the India Day Festival in Merrion Square in Dublin city centre, Akhilesh Mishra said he has been working to reassure those members of the community who are fearful.
"I'm very confident that garda and the political leadership here is very, very supportive.
"They are taking all possible measures to ensure safety of public spaces, and they are taking all measures to give confidence and a welcome feeling to the Indian diaspora. For that, I'm grateful."
Hundreds of people attended the event, organised by the Federation of Indian Communities in Ireland.
The organisation's chairperson, Dr Jásbir Puri Singh, said the Indian diaspora in Ireland have learned how to celebrate their national day by seeing the St Patrick’s Day celebrations around the world.
"We have the same values, accepting each other. Ireland is a land of a thousand welcomes. We also do the same, any guest who comes to our home is like God."
He said if any Indian person thinking of coming to Ireland asked him for advice following recent attacks here, he would say: "It happens all over the world, in every nook and corner of the world it happens, please do come. Irish people are usually friendly and nice, they are nice humble people."
Attendees enjoyed dance and musical performances on the festival stage.
Many Indian families took group pictures.
Sanjo Mulavaracal was standing proudly with his three Irish-born children.
One daughter had just been on the stage playing the Indian national anthem on violin.
He told RTÉ News he has been living here for 20 years.
He said he has always received a warm welcome when travelling around the country.
"I’m very happy here, all the time."
He has not experienced any animosity towards Indian people here and has not seen a change in attitude in recent times.
Sweta Varnwal who has been in Ireland for three and a half years said it is "absolutely wonderful and blissful".
"People complain about the weather here but I love the weather here even if it's raining, I enjoy the rain."
She said she had not experienced animosity towards Indians.
"To me personally, the incidents that have happened are with the teenagers and I wouldn’t call that type of activity specifically against Indians as such.
"It was mostly teenagers causing nuisance around the estate or the places where we were living."
Schweta Gosavii was very happy to be at the Festival with her children who were performing.
She has been in Ireland for ten years but has seen a change in the last year.
She recently witnessed a racist attack on another passenger on a bus.
"In front of me a nurse was there and one guy, he attacked her, and said some bad words and 'Go back to India’."
She said the nurse was frightened and crying and she was scared too.
"I have kids and I’m also worried about going out, but I hope everything will be sorted out."
Gardaí were at the event to engage with the Indian community.
Inspector Ciaran Nunan of the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau said they want to hear from anyone who has concerns or fears.
"We’re very interested in making sure communities are safe and feel safe throughout the country and that’s why we have engagements such as today where we come and engage with communities.
"We do that with different communities all year round and we encourage the reporting of hate crime."
