Mumbaikars led a candle light vigil to the Gateway of India to raise voice against the recent terror attacks in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, miles away in Paris, before the Eiffel tower on the esplanade of human rights, was another candle light vigil in the name of those who suffered - a vigil for hope.

Sujata Bajaj, an Indian living in Paris, lost her very close friend in the Mumbai attacks. She has come here to share her grief with Parisians who came in a steady stream to light candles in the name of the Mumbai victims.

"We are not in India. We are far from India so it's very painful," said Bajaj.

"It's important because pain only goes when you share it," said Vijay Singh, a filmmaker.

Many French sympathisers who have been following events in India closely hoped that India will be able to assert itself.

"Yes it has happened but it has happened elsewhere also and we should not change our attitudes towards India, our friendship towards India," said Martine Armand, a film festival organiser.

"People have to get involved. They've got to jump into politics. They've got to take politics seriously, they've got to vote and they've got to put pressure on governments because they need to perform," said Vaiju Naravane, a journalist.

In the last few years, Indians living abroad have been hearing things about their home country that have made them proud. But today they are getting together with people to mourn the Mumbai attacks and hoping that India will be able to combat terror and that finally something will change.