Indian culture has left its mark on modern Germany. You can now eat in a range of Indian restaurants in most German cities, take part in a yoga course or indulge in some Ayurvedic alternative therapy – all are much loved Indian imports. Indian people can feel at home in Germany, not least because Indian religious groups are also provided with places of worship. Hindu temples are found in cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Essen, Hamburg and Hanover – the Sri Kamadchi Ampal Temple in Hamm is the biggest Hindu temple in Europe.

Hindu worship in a distant land

In Hamm, the annual 14-day festival celebrating the goddess Sri Kamadchi Ampal includes a procession of her statue around the city and each year attracts 15,000 worshippers and visitors alike. In order to link activities between the two countries, the German-Indian Society (DIG) was founded in 1953. One of its cultural objectives is to teach young people from each country about the other in seminars and workshops. The DIG established the India Foundation in 2002 to further strengthen links in the areas of culture, politics, science and economics.