Indian diplomat dresses up as 'Apsara' on Cambodian New Year

The Indian ambassador to Cambodia, Devyani Khobrogade, donned a traditional attire of 'Khmer Apsara' to extend wishes of the Cambodian New Year, photos of which have gone viral on social media.

Khobrogade, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer who found herself in the middle of a controversy that sparked tensions between India and the US in 2013, did a photoshoot dressed as 'Khmer Apsara'.

"Ambassador Devyani Khobragade has a deep admiration for Khmer culture and tradition. Embracing the spirit of Khmer New Year, she elegantly dressed as a Khmer Apsara, embodying the rich bond of our civilizations. Wishing all our friends a joyous Khmer New Year celebration," the Indian Embassy in Combodia posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

A doctor by education, Khobragade joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1999, undertaking assignments in Berlin, New York, Islamabad, and Rome over the years. However, her time in New York took a dramatic turn when she was arrested by the US attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) on charges of visa fraud and making false statements in December 2013.

In a separate row, Khobragade faced accusations of paying her domestic worker below the mandated minimum wage in the United States. Denying the allegations as "false and baseless," she defended her stance. Eventually, a US court dismissed the charges, citing diplomatic immunity.

Devyani Khobragade returned to India after New Delhi turned down the US's request to waive her diplomatic immunity.

The fallout from her case strained relations between India and the US, leading to New Delhi reducing privileges for specific categories of US diplomats in India. In response, the US withdrew one of its diplomats from the country.

Khobragade was appointed as India's envoy to Cambodia in 2020.