The New South Wales Chapter of The Hindu Council of Australia has been celebrating Diwali in Australia for the last 22 years.
Last year the Diwali festival was celebrated Sydney-wide at five different locations and was attended by over 50,000 visitors.
With the COVID-19 challenges this year, no large public events have been organised, but the spirit remains undampened.
Highlights:
- The first Diwali celebrations in Sydney began with a beautiful floral decoration in the Cherrybrook Village organised by the Hindu Council.
- No public events are being held to celebrate Diwali this year due to the pandemic, but the spirit of Diwali remains undampened.
- The floral Diwali décor has been raising the interest of the shoppers and brings a smile to many a face.
Diwali continues brings out within each of us - hope, kindness and triumph.
Keeping in line with the restrictions, the Hindu Council of Australia (NSW Chapter) this year has organised a spectacular floral decoration in the Cherrybrook Community Village to mark the Festival of Lights.
This spectacular decoration will remain on display from November 10-15.
Mr Jay Raman, the President of the Hindu Council of Australia - NSW Chapter said, 'The exhibition and decorations were formally inaugurated by Julian Leeser MP and the Honourable Mayor Philip Ruddock. The lamp & Rangoli decorations have been the show stopper."
"The shoppers are very appreciative of the Hindu Council & Cherrybrook Village efforts in organising these decorations.
Source: Supplied
"The Rangoli decoration was put in place by a local group. The exhibition is covering five days of Deepavali celebrations through exhibits," Mr Jay Raman adds.
Prema Krishnan who was among the group of people who put up this beautiful Diwali floral decoration at Cherrybrook, says, "The year 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone. With the COVID-pandemic hitting us in different ways, it's always a reminder to each of us of the value and purpose in life. While we are pacing through the new normal today, the spirit of Diwali is not dampened."
"Though away from our home country, India, I enjoy the festival in the best of its way. Australia though my second motherland now supports our Indian culture & festival in every respects. More is known about these festivals than ever before", Ms Krishnan adds.
Source: Supplied
The huge floral decoration was pulled off by a group of volunteers who conceptualised and executed the massive floral rangoli.
"This wouldn’t have been possible without all the other volunteers. Different suggestions and ideas kept pouring in from each of us but in the end, we had one purpose – Spread the light. Spread the positivity. Spread the smile. Spread love."
The decoration was completed in about two hours.
Source: Supplied
"There were shoppers & others stopping by, some for a casual chat, some to understand the story behind this; few to look at the creativity being laid out, few loving the colours, few loving the coordinated work, smiles on few faces, few camera clicks while we were setting it up," Ms Krishnan said talking about the reactions of the shoppers.
Source: Supplied
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