00:00National Flower Mills has told the National Council for Indian Culture
00:04it will not be assisting in the financing of its showpiece Diwali Nagar.
00:09The long-standing sponsor has joined a list of state-owned companies
00:13which have withdrawn their participation from the signature event on the Hindu calendar.
00:18As major corporate sponsors continue to withdraw funding from the Diwali Nagar,
00:24this country's flagship Diwali celebrations,
00:27the National Council of Indian Cultures planning to break its silence on the situation on Friday.
00:33However, ahead of the media briefing tomorrow,
00:36NCIC President Suruj Deo Mangrove tells TV6 the show will go on.
00:43The Diwali Nagar is moving on full steam ahead.
00:46He promises 2026 will be bigger and better than the years gone by
00:51and maintains there is one thing they will not compromise on.
00:57The NCIC executive will on Friday explain what the exit of at least three sponsors means for the event.
01:06Mangrove confirmed today that National Flower Mills Limited had pulled its sponsorship of the event,
01:12which is expected to begin next week Friday.
01:15In a letter addressed to Mangrove, NFM stated that the company will not be participating in the Diwali Nagar 2026.
01:23Signed by Chief Executive Officer Chandrat Singh,
01:27the company wished the NCIC the best for a successful event.
01:33The NFM was among major corporate sponsors to withdraw from the event in recent days.
01:39On Wednesday, First Citizens announced that it will not be part of the Diwali Nagar after 18 years of sponsorship.
01:47And B-Mobile also ended its long-standing relationship with the Diwali Nagar.
01:53The telecommunications company has been a part of the annual celebrations for over two decades.
01:59In a WhatsApp exchange with The Express today,
02:03Mangrove confirmed the latest sponsorship withdrawal,
02:06but noted that he was unable to comment at the time.
02:09A notice followed with an invitation to a press conference at the NCIC Hospitality Lounge on Friday.
02:17In an interview with The Express on Monday,
02:20Mangrove said he was concerned,
02:22but noted that other investors were interested in being a part of the event.
02:27Mangrove said staging of the 2026 Diwali Nagar will cost close to $5 million.
02:32He said he understood state agencies were going through their certain financial constraints,
02:38but he was optimistic that the Diwali Nagar will go on successfully.
02:44Candy Hill, TV6 News.
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