Entertainment
24 October, 2024
Celebrating India’s fantastic Diwali or festival of lights
KNOWN as India’s most important holiday of the year, Diwali is here with its explosion of colour and light and the Cairns Hindu Samaj association is inviting the Cairns community to celebrate it in all its splendour next weekend.
Diwali or festival of lights is an Indian holiday that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and new beginnings and once again the Cairns Hindu Samaj (CHS) association is organising a Diwali Fair at the Edge Hill State High School for a whole afternoon of culture, music, cuisine and lots of light on Saturday October 26.
After a successful run in 2023 with over 300 attendees, the CHS is bringing back their Diwali Fair with cultural events like a laxmi puja for women only, food stalls from local restaurants, market stalls, a rangoli competition, paper diyas competition for kids, and most importantly fireworks.
“Just like the previous year we have a cultural program running at Edge Hill State High School,” said CHS acting secretary Kearav Patel.
“This year to make it more interesting and involving we’ve added a rangoli competition which is doing designs with colour on the floor. It’s a tradition that women and children do at home in India and it’s a symbol of bringing prosperity and happiness into the family.
“We’re also doing diyas, which are like candles, and we’re encouraging children and their parents to make them and bring them from home and that’s also a competition.
“Apart from that we’ll have a jumping castle, fairy floss and candy to get the kids involved while the parents enjoy the cultural program, and just like every year we have food stalls from various food vendors across Cairns to bring different flavours from all the corners of India under one roof.
“Not only will there be food vendors, but regular people bringing their food to sell, which is always a hit.
“And like every year we’ll close with the most important which is the fireworks, this is the biggest symbol of Diwali, and it’s also a big hit with the community.”
Mr Patel said CHS invited all cultures and members of the community to join in the celebration.
“Diwali is the festival of light, and it represents light conquering darkness, so it’s a festival for everyone and everyone is invited, not only Hindus,” he said.
“We encourage people to do early registrations because it helps the volunteers to prepare in advance.”
Tickets are $10 for adult non-members, $5 for children five to 12 non-members and free for members. To purchase tickets, visit www.cairnshindusamaj.org.au
