The National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) is confronting a looming financial crisis as several long‑standing corporate sponsors pull out of the 2026 Divali Nagar celebrations. First Citizens and bmobile have already withdrawn, followed by Caribbean Airlines and the National Lotteries Control Board, leaving organisers scrambling for new funding just days before the event.
NCIC president Dr Surujdeo Mangaroo said the council has received interest from four other businesses, but the estimated cost of staging the nine‑night festival—scheduled for Oct. 30 to Nov. 7 at the Divali Nagar site in Chaguanas—remains around TT$5 million. The council has requested additional government assistance, noting that a $500,000 grant was awarded for 2025 but processing delays persist.
Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath explained that bmobile’s decision to redirect its funding to community‑based celebrations, rather than event promotion, was welcomed by cultural groups in Felicity, who stand to benefit from the revised approach. Mangaroo reassured the public that admission will stay free despite the financial shortfall.
The 2026 theme, “Viveka: Discerning Truth in the Age of AI,” underscores the importance of critical thinking amid the digital era. Organisers remain hopeful that new corporate partnerships and government aid will close the funding gap and preserve Trinidad and Tobago’s most significant annual cultural celebration.
