Embassy of Finland launched Diplomatic Sauna Society in New Delhi

Sauna diplomacy has been part of Finnish diplomatic tradition for decades both home and abroad. This October, Embassy of Finland launched the Diplomatic Sauna Society in New Delhi. Sauna diplomacy has a decades-long history. The first Diplomatic Sauna Society was established at the Finnish embassy in Washington in 2008.

Embassy of Finland in New Delhi launched the Diplomatic Sauna Society with four networking events at the Embassy sauna in October. Attendees experienced a truly Finnish evening including food, drinks and 80 degrees of Finnish sauna, thereby becoming members of the society.

What is a Diplomatic Sauna Society?

A Diplomatic Sauna Society is a by-invitation-only society run by a Finnish diplomatic mission. The first Diplomatic Sauna Society was established at the Embassy of Finland in Washington in 2008. Since then, Diplomatic Sauna Societies have been launched for example at the Finnish missions in Berlin, Brussels and London.

Sauna is a very important part of Finnish culture, and hence many Finnish diplomatic missions or residences have a sauna as part of the premises. Sauna diplomacy itself has a decades-long history in Finland and at Finnish missions.

Saunas offer a special relaxed and informal setting for networking events. In sauna, titles or hierarchies don’t matter. As is written in the Sauna Diploma: “All people are created equal, but nowhere more so than in a sauna.”

• “Sauna is one of the best Finnish things. Finns use sauna in many ways and for many purposes – to relax after a tiring day or a workout, to properly cleanse the body, or to have a great time with family, friends or colleagues. Nothing beats the feeling after a good sauna session. I am very happy that we can share this Finnish experience with our contacts in New Delhi”, says Mikko Kivikoski, Ambassador of Finland to India.

The best diplomatic sauna in New Delhi

The sauna building at the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi was designed as part of the Finnish compound and built in mid-1980s.

From outside, the sauna building resembles the rest of the office and residential buildings on the compound. But once you open the door, you feel like stepping inside a wooden Finnish cottage in the countryside. The log walls and fireplace give a cozy feeling. The lounge has comfortable armchairs and a sofa for pre- and post-sauna relaxation and enjoying food and drinks.

The actual sauna is a log cabin in the middle of the building. The sauna benches can comfortably sit 5-6 people at a time to enjoy a nice steam (‘löyly’ in Finnish) for the Finnish electrically heated stove.

There is no rule for how long one is supposed to stay in the sauna, but you should only stay for as long as it feels good. Many people take breaks between sauna sessions. In Finland, cooling off might involve stepping outside into fresh air, swimming in a lake or sea, or rolling in snow during winter.

• “A special feature of the sauna at the Finnish Embassy in New Delhi is the cold plunge pool. It is great for cooling off after some nice hot ‘löylys’, and then you feel like going back to sauna again. The contrast between heat and cold is refreshing both for body and mind”, says Iiris Määttä, Second Secretary at the Finnish Embassy.

An integral part of Finnish culture

Sauna is an important part of Finnish culture. In 2020, Finnish sauna culture was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. UNESCO recognised sauna as an important part of Finland’s living cultural tradition, emphasising its role in daily life, wellbeing, and social connection.

Nobody knows exactly when first saunas were built, but they have existed in Finland for centuries. In the 1900s, apart from public saunas, people started building saunas in apartment buildings and later in private homes, even in small apartments. There are saunas also in swimming halls and gyms, hotels, hospitals, government buildings, universities and workplaces.

Nowadays, there are estimated to be over 3 million saunas for just 5.6 million Finns. Almost everyone living in Finland has access to at least one sauna – if not at their home, then perhaps a summer cottage, workplace or gym. Also, the urban sauna culture in Finland is thriving, with many new public saunas being opened in the past years.

Check out tips for different kind of saunas in Finland: https://www.visitfinland.com/en/things-to-do/sauna/.