Diaspora Tourism and Holi: Cultural Identity in Taiwan’s Indian Community

Summary As one of the largest diasporas globally, the Indian diaspora encompasses a wide range of migrants, including students, professionals, and intermarried families, who actively maintain and transmit cultural heritage across borders. In Taiwan, this growing community of 6290 residents (as of May 31, 2025) offers a unique example of how cultural traditions travel and adapt. This study investigates the Holi celebrations held by this community in Taiwan, examining their importance for diaspora tourism, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the well-being of the community. This study explores how Indian professionals in Taiwan adapt their festival traditions to local life, demonstrating forms of cultural exchange such as the reinterpretation of rituals, the involvement of local Taiwanese participants, and the blending of regional Indian practices that remain underrepresented in scholarship on small and emerging diaspora contexts. A qualitative instrumental case study methodology was employed, featuring semi-structured interviews with seven Walters and Venkatachalam first-generation Indian students and professionals attending Holi celebrations in Kaohsiung. Participants represented diverse regional backgrounds. Thematic analysis highlights that Holi significantly contributes to social cohesion, reduces isolation, fosters identity affirmation, and drives creative adaptation, thereby preserving cultural heritage. By maintaining symbolic connections to India and creating shared spaces for cultural expression in Taiwan, the event serves as a meaningful example of local diaspora tourism. These results clarify how such gatherings function as vital sites for community development, cultural continuity, and social integration within transnational contexts.