Avi Tyagi: Shedding light on India–Cyprus relations through humanity and action

The emergence of a genuinely multicultural society is one of the defining features of our times and is closely linked to interaction and mutual respect between peoples and cultures. India has long been a friendly country towards Cyprus, and the ties between them extend far beyond state-to-state relations. They reach into the realm of human contact, friendships, cooperation and joint activities, including business initiatives founded on mutual respect and shared benefit.

Every autumn, sometime between October and November, thousands of small lights are lit in homes, courtyards and event halls around the world. It is Diwali, India’s traditional “Festival of Lights”, embraced by millions of people and symbolising the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and hope over uncertainty.

Avi Tyagi: Φωτίζει με την ανθρωπιά και τη δράση του τις σχέσεις Ινδίας-Κύπρου

In recent years, Diwali has also found its place in Cyprus. A growing number of Cypriots attend ceremonies, admire the colourful rangoli patterns, capture festive moments in photographs and discover a culture they once knew mainly through screens and books. An integral part of every culture – including the Indian tradition – is gastronomy. In this context, Cypriots have increasingly turned to international cuisines, with a particular interest in authentic Indian food.

Behind the flavours, images and events are people who work quietly and persistently to keep the cultural heritage of their homeland alive. One of them is Indian entrepreneur Avi Tyagi, who has been living in Cyprus for the past seventeen years and speaks of the island as if it were his second home. He is married, a father of two children, and permanently based in Larnaca. In his case, entrepreneurship meets social contribution, with a clear aim: to build bridges between Cypriot society and the Indian community.

As vice-president of the Cyprus India Cultural Association, Avi Tyagi plays an active role in organising cultural events and celebrations, with Diwali at their forefront. At the same time, he is dynamically involved in the catering sector, running Indian restaurants under the brand name “Yummy India” in Limassol, Nicosia, Larnaca and Ayia Napa. These restaurants do not simply offer “something different” to the Cypriot public. They introduce, consistently and with respect for tradition, the authentic taste of India – from complex spice blends to classic dishes associated with festivities such as Diwali.

It is no coincidence that the majority of his regular customers are Greek Cypriots, who have come to trust his hospitality, know the dishes by name, and grow fond of the flavours he serves in a warm, family-friendly environment. These are welcoming spaces that function as small “embassies” of India in Cyprus, bringing the two societies closer together.

However, Avi Tyagi’s work does not stop at his restaurants. He also owns an Asian spice shop in Larnaca, through which he supplies both hospitality professionals and individuals who want to bring authentic aromas of India and wider Asia into their own kitchens. In doing so, he makes a tangible contribution to the local economy: creating jobs, supporting suppliers and enriching the Cypriot market with products that, until a few years ago, were almost unknown on the island.

Above all, Avi Tyagi has never forgotten his homeland or the community around him. He has consistently invested in supporting the Indian community in Cyprus. He organises and backs cultural events, participates actively in initiatives for inclusion and social cohesion, and ensures that his compatriots feel that, although they live far from India, their traditions not only survive but are recognised and respected by Cypriot society.

A telling example is the recent Diwali celebration he co-organised with members of the community: an evening filled with light, music, dance and food, where Indians and Cypriots shared the same space and, to a large extent, the same feeling of festivity and optimism. For many Cypriots, it was their first real encounter with Indian culture – and for many Indians, a confirmation that Cyprus can indeed be a second home.

Stories such as the “Festival of Lights” and the work of Avi Tyagi remind us of a simple yet essential truth: behind communities, there are people. People who love Cyprus, invest in it, create and give back with humanity, illuminating – like the Diwali lamps – a society that is more open, fairer and richer in friendship and mutual respect. A society that is truly multicultural, not as a slogan, but as a lived, everyday reality.

^{From left to right: the Vice President of the Cyprus India Cultural Association, Avi Tyagi; in the middle, his wife; and to her right, the President of the Cyprus India Cultural Association, Chris Michael.}

^{The businessman, Vice President of the Cyprus India Cultural Association, and owner of the “Yummy India” restaurant chain, Avi Tyagi.}