This year’s AIII Diwali Mela at Sandown was well organised but attracted fewer crowds than previous years, writes SIMMI SINGH
The Australian Indian Innovations Incorporated and its hard working committee have pioneered celebrations of all major Indian festivals in Melbourne for over a decade now. They have provided a platform to rejoice in the Diwali festivities for the past 14 years. Their experience and expertise was again visible in this year’s efforts at the AIII Diwali Mela at Sandown, though the turnout left a little to be desired.
Speculation was rife as to the reasons why this hitherto popular event did not attract very large numbers. According to some it could be that Diwali is nowadays being celebrated in multiple locations so the crowd is distributed. Others thought it could be due to upcoming exams that may be keeping students indoors, while some opined it was too close to Navaratri celebrations. Whatever the reason, it was a disappointing turnout in comparison to previous years. Let’s hope the 15th year celebrations next year will bring back the glory that has always been associated with this wonderful event.
This year’s festival was well supported by Indya Foods, RACV, Bupa, Vodafone, Gaura Travels, Made in India, Dr RnB Entertainment and the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Festival staples including henna artists, clothing and jewellery, children’s rides and multiple food stalls were located in neat rows in the undercover section of the Racecourse. The weather held up for most of the day with an occasional drizzle that did not deter anyone from enjoying the variety on offer.
The crowd built up towards the evening just before the spectacular fireworks and the mood was decidedly upbeat.
Gaurav Jain, a regular at the event, said, “I have been to AIII Diwali for the past eight years and I find improvements every year, especially in the entertainment program. However, they should consider having more variety amongst the food stalls as multiple stalls selling the same menu does not always appeal. Having said that I was quite excited to see the sugarcane juice available to drink and the paan counter as these are not commonly available in Australia and remind us of India.”
The stage was set with some excellent performances interspersed with some formal speeches. Gabrielle Williams MP, State member for Dandenong, and Julian Hill, Labor candidate for Bruce, were amongst the dignitaries that graced the occasion and greeted all the stallholders.
Young children displayed tremendous potential and talent as they danced to an assorted medley of Indian and Bollywood music.
The vibrancy and colours on display and the vivacity of the dancers appealed a lot to Julian Burns from RACV who visited the festival for the first time this year.
“I have never been to an Indian festival like this before and I was blown away with all the colour and exuberance around me,” he said. “It was wonderful to see people enjoy themselves and I would really like to come back again next year.”
The organising committee, headed by Vernon Da Gama, Yogen Laxman, Jeet Soni and Babu Akula, received mostly positive feedback and is already planning the next AIII event aiming to make it bigger and better.
Anurati Krishnamurthy presents an impressive debut
In dance you have to move in measure; each step, each gesture of the hand, each eye movement, is deliberate. It requires courage to dance before an audience of a few hundred people, and if you are doing it for the first time in a solo performance, hundreds of eyes are watching. To come out successfully therefore is a feat, no doubt. It is a rare instance when we come across a dancer who, in her very debut, clearly demonstrates that she has understood her medium.
Natya Nivedanam by Anurati Krishnamurthy at the Redgum Centre in Sydney on 11 October stood as testimony to this fact. Anurati is the daughter of Krishnamurthy and Gayatri, well known dance teachers in Sydney’s Indian community. She hails from the Thrayee School of Dance in Sydney run by her mother.
Clearly, she has dance in her blood. In abhinaya, it was a pleasure to see her excel. From the very first item, one saw a confident dancer at ease in her movements and expressions. That arrangetram feeling was totally absent.
The main item in the performance was Nrithyopaharam, a dance feast indeed. Beautifully choreographed, it formed an intricate dance structure. Three stanzas from ‘NinnE Nera Nambi nAnurA’ in Atana Raga were presented with rich nritya and abhinaya. They portrayed various aspects of Krishna’s mythology – the stealer of curds, one who ate mud and showed his mother the universe in his mouth, killed Kaliya the serpent, protected Draupadi’s honour and led Arjuna to war. The faster, second part of this item proved very impressive with the words ‘ChinnI Krishna rArA, nannu pAlimpu’. This item is akin to Varna and may be considered the acid test of the dancer’s talent and skill. You came out in flying colours, Anurati. It was a sheer joy to watch the various moods of Krishna, mischievous as well as solemn.
‘Poonkuyil’ is a Tamil composition popularised by many great singers and one I like very much. Anurati danced to it admirably. It is a song where a girl finds the atmosphere around her intoxicates her with love. Shringara is the theme. The lover (God) appears on a peacock chariot to excite the girl, but soon disappears leaving her in expectation again. Beautiful poetry in the composition, melodious singing of it by Krithika and the effortless dance by Anurati in slow tempo all converged to produce a pleasant experience which I will remember for long.
‘Nadamadi’ was a ninda-sthuthi, where Anurati gave a good expression of anger, bhakthi and love. Another great dramatisation was seen in the item ‘Maiya Mori’ which again presented a few incidents from Krishna’s life. His pleading in the beginning that he did not steal the butter and his reappearance at the end to declare that it was he that indeed did it, better heightened the drama. An impressive Thillana in Kapi raga had many picturesque poses.
Music provided was of wonderful quality. We had Krithika Shurajit Vikram (from India) and Sindhuja Ganapathy giving vocal support. Master of the craft, Bala Shankar was on mridungam. Shobanaa Balachandra (from India) played the Nattuvangam while Balaji Jagannadhan gave the violin support. It is pleasure to note that the young Sindhuja was born and trained in Sydney. When she and Krithika sang together, there was a stereophonic effect especially in the items Nrityopahara and Thillana. Balachandra and Balaji brought in their many years of experience in playing for dance debuts.
Representatives of India’s renowned real estate developer Ansal Group were in Melbourne recently to promote their mega housing project the Ansal Amantre in Gurgaon.
The event was held at The Langham Hotel where potential buyers and investors were invited to find out more about the project and its payment scheme, supported by Invest Advice Wealth Management Solutions. Local financial solution provider Ash Financial Services supported the event and was instrumental in bringing the potential clients together.
A liberalised Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy and booming economy in India has encouraged increased confidence for foreign investors, particularly in the Indian real estate sector. In the past few years, on the one hand, the Indian realty sector suffered a lull from stalling sales and weak cash flow, but on the other, it still held promise for overseas investors.
The current FDI changes are designed to make it easier for foreign companies and individuals to invest in India through an automatic route where no FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) clearances are required. Besides that, there are more relaxed norms related to built-up areas, capitalisation and lock-in and exit periods, adding to the consumer confidence.
It is therefore no surprise that major Indian developers like Ansal, Godrej, DLF, etc. are increasingly investing marketing money into promoting their premium luxury accommodations and commercial projects overseas.
Strategically located near the Dwarka Expressway Ansals Amantre is slated to be built over 10.10 aces and differentiates itself from other equally ambitious building projects by offering 11 ft ceilings, biometric security system and signal free travel to the airport.
Boasting of its own clubhouse, with swimming pool, gym, tennis courts, restaurants etc. Ansals Amantre promises a lifestyle, in their words, ‘likely to rekindle the joy of living’. The site plan speaks of luxury and quality from its artfully tree lines boulevards to spacious floor plans, terraced gardens and the ultra modern amenities.
The invitees at Langham were also informed of a payment plan that raised considerable interest and speculation amongst the astute potential investors and buyers. The finance representatives from invest advice founder Sachin Gupta and Director Shubhranshu Garg set about assuring the guests of the authenticity of the project and spent the evening and subsequent days of there visit clarifying the scheme.
Rakresh Arora, Senior Marketing Manager from Ansal Housing and Construction, was also present to answer any queries.
Judging by the buzz, the lucrative payment plan attracted much attention.
“I started out thinking this is too good to be true, however when I went to meet them again the following day they were able to convince me and I purchased one apartment,” said one of the guests.
“With new schemes coming from all different directions, it’s always advisable to ask questions, do your homework and make sure you look at these offers with a magnifying glass,” the local businessman said. “If you are not sure, ask for professional advice, but do not fall into the trap of thinking that everything is going to be perfect just because it is presented in that light with all the bells and whistles. Learn to look beyond the gloss.”
Shree Shree Sugunendra Teertha Swamiji is hosted in Keysborough, NIKITA KULKARNI and MOHAN THITE report
Mick Morland, Mayor of the City of Casey, was so taken by Hindu pontiff Shree Shree Sugunendra Teertha Swamiji when they met at Keysborough a few months ago, that he promised to throw a function in his honour when he next visited Australia.
True to his word, he accorded the much-loved Swamiji a mayoral reception when he returned to Melbourne in early October.
Swamiji was recognised for his efforts towards world peace and his achievements through the years, in the Council Chambers of the City of Casey Civic Centre.
In attendance were Councillors of the City of Casey and many from the Indian community, for whom it was an honour to be in the presence of the head of the Puttige matha (monastic establishment) in Udupi, Karnataka.
His Holiness attended in full traditional attire, wearing the saffron robes, the wooden paduka as sandals, and gopi-chandan (sandalwood paste) on his person.
He also carried the tridanda in his hand – a wooden staff covered in holy cloth and made up of three components, one each for kama, krodha and lobha (passion, anger and greed, representing the three vices that monks of his stature are said to have gained control over.)
It is not often that the head of a Hindu matha comes visiting. In fact, it is actually frowned upon for Hindus to ‘cross the oceans’.
With over 30 million NRIs and many more millions visiting abroad regularly, this edict is perhaps practiced more in breach than in adherence; yet, it is still the case that Swamijis from very old religious institutions rarely, if at all, go overseas.
Swami Sugunendra however, has always thought otherwise: he believes that his primary mission in life is to go where the devotees are, and offer spiritual advice and support.
Amidst stiff opposition from fellow Swamijis and some in the community, he started making regular overseas visits many years ago.
Today, he is the President of the World Conference on Religion and Peace; has spoken at the UN and met every major head of state; has interacted with university students in many countries, and leads some 35 religious and spiritual institutions in India and abroad.
In line with his belief that the whole world, not just India, is a holy land and that devotees, no matter where they are, deserve to be served, he has set up three Krishna temples in the USA and one in Canada and has kindly agreed to start a religious and spiritual centre in Melbourne.
Thanks to the valiant efforts of Sri Raghavendra Seva Samiti (SRSS) in Melbourne, SS Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji has visited Australia regularly in recent years, meeting devotees in Perth, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Described as a “moving encyclopaedia” of Indian philosophy and religious texts, Swamiji has been a promoter and teacher of non-violence for long.
For him, spirituality is a tool which can be used positively to overcome personal or societal problems.
As he talks and writes about current world predicaments whether in security, in economics, in governance or in ecology, he asks for our lives to be imbued with a Spiritual Quotient (SQ) over and above an Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and an Emotional Quotient.
At the mayoral reception, he said, “My message of Universal Brotherhood is better understood when we feel the presence of the Almighty in every creature.
This therefore calls for mutual respect and concern among living beings beyond frontiers.”
“Swamiji’s visit benefits Australia as we here in Victoria alone have more than 120 different cultures and religions,” the Mayor said on the occasion.
“These cultures and religions enlighten us and we are able to learn about them further. We, as a community, are able to celebrate our diversity. By honouring Swamiji, we are able to honour and celebrate the diversity between us.”
The experience left all those present, humbled and blessed.
Human rights advocate SENTHORUN RAJ talks about the marriage equality debate and different ways to recognise relationships
I have spent almost a decade at the University of Sydney. From studying for an undergraduate Arts/Law degree to working on a PhD, I have been interested in the way academic work can reach beyond the institutional walls and strengthen our communities.
My current research into law reforms designed to remedy violence against sexual minorities brings together my personal and political passions.
I am – as others have jokingly described me – a “professional gay”.
Photo: Sydney Alumni Magazine, Lucy Parakhina
From the age of 10, I was insistent I would study law. This had less to do with the financial or intellectual privileges of the profession and more to do with my desire to mimic the camp flair of the attorneys I had a crush on in television series Law and Order: SVU.
When I came to university, discovering gender studies not only provided an intellectual solace for “coming out” as a gay man, it also transformed how I thought about my legal studies.
As I became more involved in gay rights advocacy, I began to wonder whether the legal system – with all its promises of justice – inhibited or instigated social change.
This wondering has emerged in my research and advocacy on marriage equality.
To begin with, I am inclined to support reforms that guarantee formal equality before the law. I think it is safe to assume that many people share that general inclination.
In a country where marriage is governed by secular laws, it is troubling that religious opinion continues to be cited as a reason to deny same-sex couples the right to marry.
Marriage is a dynamic institution. The proposition that marriage is a ‘natural’ phenomenon ignores the fact that the institution has been culturally and historically mutable.
No longer does the law regard the legal personality of women as ‘covered’ by that of their male spouses nor does it provide men with immunity from criminal laws if they rape their wives.
Marriage does not mandate procreation and it certainly does not guarantee it. Claims that children will be “forced” to have two parents of the same sex also ignores the current situation in family law that recognises same-sex families (with the exception of adoption in a few states).
Even if marriage were solely designed to provide stability for children, why then deny this purported stability to children being raised by two men or two women?
There is also little “sanctity” in a marriage definition that forces transgender people to divorce before having their gender identity legally recognised, or erasing intersex people from recognition entirely.
In navigating the opinions of those opposed to marriage equality, the public is often implored to “respect” the views of both sides.
Respect is seen as the currency of civil debate. However, there is nothing “respectable” about shielding bigotry from critical scrutiny.
Arguing that same-sex parenting is child abuse or that it creates a new “Stolen Generation” is not a demonstration of respect (let alone historical accuracy).
Using religion as a cover for claiming homosexuality is an illness or sin is demeaning. Vilifying people on the basis of who they are or whom they love is dangerous.
Rebuttals responding to these arguments in favour of “traditional marriage” are quite simple.
Yet, on the flipside, I’m also sceptical about some of the broader claims about social acceptance that are made in the push for same sex marriage.
Homophobic or transphobic violence, discrimination, vilification and harassment are sadly still pervasive realities for many people.
Positioning marriage equality as the “major issue” (or worse, the “only issue”) queer communities face obscures other institutional forms of inequality.
Marriage equality does not provide refuge to transgender people who have been kicked out of home or have fled from domestic violence.
Relationship recognition does not create inclusive classrooms or aged-care facilities that do not shame or stigmatise people for not being “normal”.
Marriage does not stop us caging or returning asylum seekers to countries that criminalise homosexuality.
I do not wish to understate the enormously symbolic and emotional importance of marriage equality. I myself often fantasise about having a glitter-infused queer Hindu wedding.
Yet we risk forgetting about the broader challenges for social justice by positioning marriage equality as the panacea for our homophobic ills.
In thinking about social justice, I am reminded of the people in our community who danced and rioted in the streets of Sydney in 1978 to resist moral persecution.
They were not fighting for inclusion in the existing social system – they were disrupting it.
They helped to highlight that love, intimacy, and kinship manifests in bonds that go beyond conjugal heterosexuality.
It was not about marriage then. It was about building liberated, thriving, and mutually supportive communities for all people.
So, as we start rethinking marriage laws, it is also important to rethink how we recognise relationships.
Fortunately, in Australia, people do not need to be married to secure rights, entitlements and obligations as a couple.
Yet the elevation of marriage as the relationship archetype erases the many non-marital relationships that are secure and loving. Some even characterise unmarried, non-monogamous, or single people as deficient.
In an effort to claim equality, we must not dismiss “lifestyle choices” that do not mimic our own.
The tensions that emerge in my activist, advocacy, and academic pursuits on the matter are not easy to resolve. However, by being mindful and critical of these frictions, I find the space for justice and community very promising. Senthorun Raj is an advocate and academic working in the areas of criminal justice, refugee law, legal theory, and human rights. He is currently completing his PhD and teaching at the University of Sydney Law School. This article originally appeared in the October 2015 edition of the Sydney Alumni Magazine and has been republished with permission.
Vijitha Satkunanathan presents an impressive bharatanatyam debut
Bharatanatyam arrangetram. These two words spark a small fear within a dancer.
Doubts creep in, shivers run down the spine. It’s like a major exam! But to overcome the trepidation and perform an entire set of items to a mass of more than 300 people, is incredible.
In her arrangetram, Vijitha Satkunanathan showed us the determination, persistence and ambition of a dancer wanting to make herself, her family and her guru proud.
A disciple of Smt. Yalinit Thirulogan, Vijitha’s arrangetram at the Alexander Theatre at Monash University, marked a stepping-stone in her artistic journey. It signified the opening of doors for her as an artiste.
Grace and femininity, as well as strength and control, marked Vijitha’s recital that night.
Each step executed with precision and practice, she gave us evidence of her full understanding of the three elements of Bharatanatyam, nritta, nritya and natya. (These stand for, in order, the demonstration of rhythm through graceful body movements; explanatory dance where lyrics are conveyed by means of hand gestures and facial expressions, and the drama by means of which an entire story is narrated in full).
Vijitha truly shone under the lights as she brought the stories of the gods to life.
Gracing this event was Adem Somyurek MP, State member for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region, and Brahmachari Gautam also known as Gautam Ji from Chinmaya Mission.
Gautam Ji inspired us with his words as he explained what dancing really is and how it can help us through life, a philosophy that the star of the moment, Vijitha, no doubt stands by.
Picture perfect with amazing costume choices and pleasing makeup, her fluent grace and beauty were breathtaking and her performance left us in awe.
Vijitha performed more than nine pieces and did them all justice. Opening with a felicitation of Lord Ganpathy, she prayed, through dance, for the removal of any obstacles from this auspicious event.
The item ‘Saranam Ayyappa’ (ragam Reethigowlai and talam Adi), was of her particular significance, given that it was written by her grandfather Dr Rajaratnam Sithamparapillai.
She exhibited passion, beauty and grace through the swift movements of her hands and the powerful beat in her step.
Vijitha took our breath away in this particular number that meant a lot to her and her family.
The ‘Jathiswaram’, composed of pure dance movements demonstrated the dancer’s skills and coordination beautifully.
‘Nallur Kanthan Palamai’, a song praising the glorious Lord Murugan, who brings endless joy to his devotees with a sighting of him in the Nallur Temple, adorned with his victorious vel (divine spear) and glimmering jewels.
In the ‘Varnam’, an item requiring concentration, devotion, elegance and grace throughout, Vijitha proved very capable. Each beat and step was carefully calculated, each movement of the hand filled with purpose, each pose as sturdy as a statue, and each look powerful and meaningful, as she told the audience the story.
This piece encompasses many complex components of Bharatanatyam.
This ‘Varnam’ showcased the navarasa (the nine emotions) – sringaram (love), hasyam (laughter), karunyam (compassion), raudram (anger), veeream (bravery), bhayankam (fear), bibhatsam (disgust), atputham (amazement) and shanthan (peace) – to the various emotions of the highly revered Goddess Shakthi.
In the slow-paced numbers that focused on the bhavam, the patham allowed Vijitha to shine through, as her expressions were flawless. She simply caught our attention, never letting it waver.
The accompanying artists brought together the entire arrangetram, filling the theatre with music that took us to a land far beyond.
Vocalist Sri Ahilan Sivanandan, violinist Sri V Suresh Babu and Dr Maal Marugan Yoganathan on the mridangam left us at a loss of words. They are among the best in Australia and all over the world.
The start of an energetic, enthusiastic performance signalled the beginning of the ‘Thillana’.
This dance, traditionally the last piece in a repertoire, is a vibrant sequence of intricate and complex rhythmic patterns, and with it, Vijitha showed that as a dancer she has truly come into her own.
In the concluding number ‘Mangalam’, Vijitha paid her respects to her family, friends, Guru, and the orchestra, completing her arrangetram with flying colours indeed.
Fostering bilateral relationships between India and Australia through a shared love of cricket
A legendary cricketer, an award-winning businesswoman, a popular media personality and a Small Business Minister came together under the aegis of the Australia India Business Council Victoria (AIBC) recently to discuss all things Indian at the Annual Australia India Address, this year held at the InterContinental Melbourne at the Rialto.
The dinner event attracted a select audience comprising Victorian businesses, Government representatives, stakeholders and other dignitaries.
The evening provided some though-provoking ideas thanks to the eclectic list of speakers.
The charming Del Irani from the ABC, compered the proceedings and managed some semblance of control over the timing.
Presenter, co- creator and producer of ABCs social media talk show Talk About It, Irani is a well-respected Australian journalist with a part Indian and part Iranian heritage.
The formal part of the evening commenced with a brief introduction by Sheba Nandkeolyar, the National Vice Chair of AIBC.
Nandkeolyar briefly outlined AIBC’s role in promoting and facilitating culture, trade, investment and fostering bilateral relationships between India and Australia.
The first speaker for the night was Philip Dalidakis MP, recently appointed Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade in Victoria, who emphasised the significance of opportunities created through personal and business relationships.
“It is important to acknowledge the power of sportspeople that play at the highest level both in Australia and India, and to use that opportunity to then progress both at a social and economic level,” said the Minister, whilst acknowledging the presence of cricketer Merv Hughes and Cricket Victoria’s CEO Tony Dodemaide.
The Minister paid tribute to athletes for their contribution to society, saying sportspeople have always proved to be at the forefront of social change.
He provided an example of the issues experienced by Indian students in Australia a few years ago and praised Cricket Australia for taking the lead in combating the anti-social behavior that was being experienced at that time.
Dipen Rughani, National Chairman of AIBC then took over, telling the audience about AIBC’s role in creating the people-to-people connectivity for the numerous trade delegations between Australia and India.
“AIBC is the glue or conduit that helps promote ongoing relationships between the two countries, as we know many people at the State and Federal Minister level in India,” said Rughani.
The chairman’s address was followed by a Q and A session between Del Irani and Rohini Kappadath, Director of Cross Border Business at Pitcher Partners consulting.
At the time of the AIBC event, Rohini was nominated as one of the finalists for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards 2015. She won the prestigious award the following day.
“Australian businesses invest more in New Zealand than all of Asia,” Kappadath said. “We are conservative, risk averse and perhaps a bit complacent when it comes to investing in India or Asia.”
Kappadath suggested that Australians have almost ‘missed the boat’ as far as investing in India is concerned.
Using a sporting analogy she said that Australians are literally throwing the game away and not capitalising on the opportunities, abundant talent and unique propositions that India has to offer.
Kappadath emphasised the need to have a new game plan for the current times, the need to be very sharp and to know with whom one needs to play and how to play the market.
According to her, India may be a difficult place to do business but it is a fun place once you get over the obstacles.
“When dealing with India, Australian businesses need to ensure that they are ahead of the curve,” she said, with characteristic passion.
The final speaker for the night proved to be the most entertaining.
His famous handlebar moustache wriggled with amusement as Australian cricketer Merv Hughes spoke in conversation with Senior Manager, Community Engagement for Cricket Australia, Sam Almaliki.
With self-deprecating humour, Hughes spoke about his experiences playing in India and facing Indian cricketing greats such as Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar.
From his rookie days to his recent appearance on the reality show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here Hughes provided some interesting snippets from his career.
The evening typically ended with fans lining up to take photos with the celebrity.
Everyday women recognised at the launch of a new women’s community group, writes PREETI DAGA
A new initiative, known as Women of Wyndham (WOW), has launched in Melbourne’s western suburbs, aiming to provide a networking platform for local women to engage on community matters, promote gender equality, social and cultural inclusion and create awareness toward the prevention of domestic violence.
To mark the launch of WOW, 26 women from varying cultural backgrounds and age groups that are making a positive difference in the local community were recognised and presented with certificates of appreciation in the presence of over 100 attendees, including members of the local community and distinguished guests.
Those recognised at the launch are workers who are working silently and tirelessly to assist the most vulnerable in the community including youth, those affected by domestic violence, Aboriginal women in prison and senior citizens.
A number of the recipients are actively involved in cross cultural affairs and promoting general health and wellbeing in the community.
The idea for WOW came about when a highly active group of women undertook a building blocks leadership training focused on women from new and emerging communities.
This successful training program led to the formation of WOW with Monica Raizada as the President and Rozae as the Secretary.
The core team comprises of five locally active women from different walks of life and cultures including Australian, Indian, English, Burmese and Samoan backgrounds.
They will be working towards creating awareness of issues faced by the local community – particularly women.
Besides the support of Wyndham Council, WOW is also connected with Ramon Helps Inc – a not-for-profit organisation where Monica Raizada is the Chairperson for Family and Wellbeing.
The President of Ramon Helps, Rakesh Raizada was the event coordinator and, with the support of Ramon Helps volunteers and Sharon Brown from Wyndham City Council, steered the preparation and launch of WOW successfully.
According to Monica Raizada, “WOW aims to provide a voice for women living in and around Wyndham. It is the need of the hour to think beyond ‘I’ and to become ‘we’ to make this world a better place for our future generations.
The WOW team is determined to work towards zero deaths due to violence against women, leading to happier and safer lives for women living in Wyndham.”
Wyndham City Council is highly supportive of the WOW initiative. The VIP guest list at the launch included Joanne Ryan MP, Mayor Peter Maynard, Cr Gautam Gupta and Cr Bob Fairclough.
The event also included an unveiling of a new WOW logo along with its mission and vision statement.
Cr Gautam Gupta applauded the initiative and said, “Wyndham City Council is proud of its gender diversity and is one of the few councils that encourages women leadership at all levels. For this we have also named our Tarneit Library after the former local member for Lalor and the first woman Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard. We recognise the significant contribution women make towards the betterment of the society. And so are delighted to support this wonderful initiative for the Women of Wyndham.”
While extending vote of thanks Rakesh Raizada expressed his wish that WOW should gradually grow into “Women Of Victoria” to “Women of Australia” and ultimately to “Women of the World”.
Under the leadership of Di Missenn, the WOW team requested those present at the launch to highlight local issues in relation to domestic violence and gender inequality on feedback forms which were to be collated and provided to appropriate policy making bodies for consideration.
The full list of those honoured included: Mitzi Abiera, Shama Bhangu, Nancy Brennan, Sharon Brown, Anne Farrar, Angelika (Angi) Hinz, Say Htoo Eh Moero, Suli Iheakor, Harneet Karan, Lynne Killeen, Lisi Lai, Ravy Leang-Slattery, Marg Markovic, E”mer Paw Saw Shwe, Poni Joyce Peter, Prem Prem, Rowena Price, Gull Rana, Helen Rodd, Annie Scicluna, Sunita Sethi, Pearl Towe, June Van Boven, Reeta Verma Lesley Watson, Jasmine Wong.
Membership to WOW is open to all members of the community.
WOW team meetings are scheduled for first Tuesday of every month at 6pm at Wyndham Council.
Visit ‘Women Of Wyndham’ on Facebook or email womenofwyndham@gmail.com
It’s fun as well as exercise in a dance class for seniors
The Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre was already abuzz with Bollywood dances ke chaahne wale as I entered. While Yvonne said she lived a street away, Kerin had travelled all the way from distant Altona Meadows so as not to miss the rare opportunity to learn engaging Bollywood dancing.
As part of this year’s 33rd Victorian Seniors Festival, older members of the community were invited to take part in a low-impact movement Bollywood dance class.
After typically Hindustani delays in last-minute preparations, Assistant Manager Melanie Sanders invited us inside the hall, while Hung To, of activity sponsor Alpha Hearing, adorned some 35 visibly keen-to-learn seniors’ necks with colourful silk scarves for our Bollywood dancing lesson. Most of us happily donated a gold coin towards expenses.
Then salwar-kameez attired and eager to teach, Jagriti Bhatia, Director, Ignite Bollywood Dance Company, her dupatta meaningfully wrapped around the waist, introduced herself and initiated the no back-flips program of active ageing through Bollywood dancing.
First things first, Jagriti advised that if suffering with a physical constraint, one could not participate in the dancing, but instead enjoy the enthralling moves just watching the rest of us perform.
Hands folded and with a mini-bow, the humble Indian greeting, Namaste – was vocally practiced and well received.
Then, the movement called ‘Ha-ha’: two steps either side, shoulders up and down, and movement of arms, hands and wrists was introduced.
As the initial Ha-ha was rather lukewarm, energetic Jagriti demanded we put life into it, and continued roars of enthusiasm resulted.
The next movement introduced, ‘Basketball’ saw the seniors, their arms raised high – this side and that, stretch themselves in ball-throwing postures. This was also adopted with as much gusto. With most seniors by now panting, a two-minute break was allowed.
Now came the vigorous ‘Dog Owner’ step, in which imagined dogs on leads at the beach were tugged from one side of the body to another, shoulders to toes going wild with movements. The seniors mimed walking on their toes on the sand, as fast and loud Bollywood songs were being played.
A thirty-minute introductory workout quite sufficient as the first lesson, the seniors greeted each other, prayed that such afternoons of sheer learning enjoyment would persist even beyond the Seniors’ Week, and then enjoyed dhokla, biscuits, eclairs and tea/coffee.
There will be giant cook-ups, prayers, diyas, partying and mithai-sharing galore, but also a touch of activism and charity this Diwali
Friends and family
Sunny Bakshi
My wife Guneet and I try to make a big deal out of Diwali for the sake of our kids Ansh and Ayaan, who are nine and three respectively. Hum chaahte hain ke hamare traditions kaafi had tak maintained rahe (we’d like to keep our traditions maintained). This year, like always, we’ll do our paath (prayers) at home and light our candles. Then we’ll go to the gurudwara and join others as they light the diyas and sparklers. We’ll come back home and call our family and friends in India.
Over here too, with our close circle of friends, we get our kids to exchange gifts. For the little ones, this makes it our version of Christmas. We also like them to know that the adults exchange mithai at Diwali!
The sparkle of diyas
George Thakur
On Diwali night, Rose and I fill our home with the sparkle of diyas. The neighbours come round to ask what it’s all about, and we tell them. And then share a plate of mithai, of course! We are not Hindu by religion but we are Indian, and Diwali is a wonderful Indian tradition that we both enjoy very much. We observe all Indian traditions and customs, and savour each one!
This year we’ll be lighting a special diya for our brand new grandson Louis.
Social inclusion: Festivals for all Grahak Cunningham
Diwali for me is a busy time. I usually try and attend a few festivals and in Perth there are a lot to choose from. Indian Society of Western Australia’s now week-long, multi-venue festival always gets huge numbers. It is dynamic, commercial and busy. The Swan Festival of Lights multi-day festival right on the banks of the Swan River is uplifting and spiritual, and always with some stunning performances.
For the first time this year I will be going to Agrawal’s Diwali in Cannington which should be fun. I always eat a lot of good Indian food over the period and then wonder why when I step on the scales. I always wish my Indian friends (and strangers) Happy Diwali. Ten years ago it used to garner a look of surprise when a Caucasian said “Happy Diwali”. Now with the growing understanding of other cultures and the increased ethnicity in Australia it doesn’t really raise so many eyebrows, but I still do it.
I read such a nice letter to the editor in a local newspaper last week. The author was saying that instead of banning religious activities in schools (like Christmas plays and carols and so forth so as not to offend anyone) they should encourage it and then celebrate all the other festivals like Diwali and Ramadan and so on. It was an inclusive idea so people can appreciate each other and their beliefs more. Although they make me gain weight, the more festivals that focus on the good, the better. Happy Diwali.
North-South dialogue
Priyanka Venkataraman
It’s kind of a special Diwali for Sahil and me as we’re expecting our first child shortly. It’s only our second Diwali in Oz! Last year we had a gala celebration with plenty of friends and puja and sparklers and a large communal meal. This year will be more subdued, but still exciting as my parents will be here from Mumbai then. Our celebrations will be a blend of North and South traditions, as that’s where we are both from. My husband’s kind of Diwali is high on food, and my kind of Diwali is high on rituals and customs. So we’ll have a trip to the temple as well as entertaining at home; diyas and candles as well as rangolis and decorations. Plus, plenty of food! We’ll try to keep as many traditions going as possible! But the gambling and the cards sessions, no, I don’t think I’d encourage that… it’s not my kind of thing at all!
Our first Diwali Puneet Anand
It’s my very first Diwali with my husband Prateek so it’s going to be a rather special one! I’ll miss him on the day itself though, because Prateek is a fly-in-fly-out engineer with Rio Tinto and works on site during the week. But we’ll be going to the gurudwara together on the weekend, and then join the crowds at the Swan Festival of Lights and at ISWA Diwali mela. We will also be catching up with friends. We’re having a communal meal and I’ve offered to make gol gappas – mostly because Prateek loves them a lot!
I’ve been in Oz only a few months but have figured out where to buy all the Diwali stuff. I do want to make a big deal of it like we used to in India, but I will miss home, the immediate family, the extended family, the home-made mithai and the patakas!
Diwali is family time
Taruna Jeyarajah
This will be the second Diwali together for me and my husband Mayuran. We will actually be overseas this time for Diwali, but I can tell you what we would typically do. We would celebrate as a family with my parents who live close by, along with my sister and her family. Traditionally, our first stop is to the gurudwara for mattha tek and prayers, and then we light some candles and sparklers just outside along with everyone else. We then go home to my parents, and sit down at the home mandir. Dad would lead the prayers (we have Sikhism and Hinduism in our family) and we would sing traditional songs like Om Jai Jagadish Hare. We would then eat sweets and light the oil lamps outside my parents home. My sister and I would go to our own homes and light oil lamps and leave them outside before getting back together for dinner. My husband Mayuran is Sri Lankan by background and has embraced our culture with open arms. Diwali is a special time for our family and even though we will be overseas this year, we will still find a way to celebrate.
Eat, Pray, Love
Preeti Jabbal
Diwali is probably the only time in the year when we as a family observe proper traditions of offering prayers, lighting candles and conducting certain rituals passed on by my mother.
Starting from the frantic rush to find kesar (saffron) and silver coins (chandi ke sikke) from Indian stores, to making the kadha parsad (sweet offerings) and lighting up the house with candles, the preparations tend to switch on to high gear around this time of the year.
If Diwali falls on a working day, it gets quite hectic to finish work, rush back, get things in order, complete the little Diwali rituals, pray and then go to the Gurudwara Sahib to seek blessings and light some candles.
I am all for having a public holiday on Diwali; after all, it is the Indian equivalent of Christmas and in multicultural Australia, anything is possible. If we can get a public holiday for Cup Carnival and Grand Final, why not have one for the largest Indian festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil?
Note to self: bring this up when the politicians are tripping over themselves making all sorts of promises prior to next elections.
Our little Diwali ritual involves writing on the wall or a piece of paper, which our son quite enjoys as the only time of the year that mum does not complain about keeping things spotless. We sprinkle saffron, milk and rice on everything including the silver coins and pray for peace and prosperity. I learnt this from my own mum and am happy to continue the tradition.
Ours is a joint family so there are always elders around to give more meaning to the celebrations with their blessings and presence. My mum-in-law likes to celebrate Diwali with her seniors group as well. She generally leads the prayer segment at home on Diwali day. My father who lives with my brother also looks forward to this day and likes to spend it with the whole family being together. We always go to the Sikh temple on Diwali night where the children get to play with sparklers and light candles safely and we get to offer our gratitude through prayer.
Leading up to Diwali and beyond, the social calendar completely ramps up with card parties, dinner dances, Diwali melas and numerous invitations to each of these. The credit card gets a sound beating as new clothes are purchased for everyone. All the festivities typically revolve around food and counting calories goes out of the (well-lit) windows.
Giving is an integral part of the festival and my mum used to donate sweets to orphanages in India. She insisted on distributing the food herself to ensure that the kids got to eat everything and the unscrupulous orphanage staff took nothing away from them. I have continued that tradition to a small extent here by donating to local charities and rotating my choice every year.
20 years in Australia and the festive spirit is well and alive as we continue to eat, pray and love at Diwali.
A social cause at Diwali Vish Chilumkurti
Family and friends and plenty of food, especially sweet stuff… that’s what Diwali is about at my place. My wife Sirisha teaches our kids Aditya and Anushka the puja elements as well but it’s the fun and food that appeals to them at this point in time!
As they grow up, they will learn that Diwali is a special time for us in a different way. It is a time when we do our bit for those less fortunate than us. As a young man I was very affected one Diwali by the plight of child labourers in the firecracker industry in India. It spurred me to go on an awareness drive to shun this product that is dangerous in so many ways, and so wasteful too. In a personal capacity, I have been working with some kids who used to work in firecracker factories, to lift their station in life. The oldest child I am sponsoring is a girl now in Year 6. She and the others are getting a decent education and will hopefully never have to go back to their old lives again.
Fireworks are a strict no-no with me. Other than the exploitative nature of their manufacture, they also pollute the environment with the smoke and the sound – Diwali is a Festival of Light, not Sound!! I also encourage my friends in India to do their bit: if you are not able to sponsor a child out of this industry, at least take a decision not to buy the stuff they are forced to make.
Let’s all have a peaceful Diwali.
Diwali, when the activist in me comes out
Dipanjali Rao
Photo: Tel McCubbin
Diwali, Deepavali for us Telugu people, used to be a big deal back home… new clothes, exchanging sweets with neighbours, flowers in the house, diyas everywhere. I went off crackers and fireworks when I found out in Year 10 about child labour in the industry, and ever since it’s been a cracker and firework free Deepavali back home.
Australia though, is a different story. I’ve been here ten years and every single year I tell myself that I’ll go to Federation Square for Diwali celebrations, and every year I forget!! I pass by the city and see a poster for Diwali and a date that has passed and without exception, slap my forehead and curse under my breath. Next year, I tell myself.
Except last year, I signed up to volunteer with White Ribbon at their Diwali stall. It was very interesting walking around asking Indian men to sign the no-violence pledge and get people to make donations. After the volunteer shift I got to go around and sample some of the food and watch some of the entertainment. Some of it made me cringe – I wonder why our entertainment is so Bollywood-centric – but then I guess it is more accessible. I hope they change this, this time round.
And then there was the year I went hunting around to Indian stores to find neem flowers to make pacchadi… ooh wait, that was for Ugadi, not Diwali. Whoops, wrong festival. I really should make more effort. I blame my Jewish housemate. If she were Indian, I’d be more in touch. So, all her fault really. Oh, but we did celebrate Deepavali once when she visited India and spent a few days with my family in Hyderabad. I lifted my fireworks ban (atithi devobhava, of course) and we burst bombs, fired rockets, and marvelled at the beauty of fireworks. That makes me nostalgic now. Maybe I’ll light a few diyas at my door this year. And buy pheni to eat with milk, like we do at home. And make polelu. I love cooking, what better occasion than Deepavali to try something new!
Cooking up a storm!
Shano Rajkumar
I made a batch of mohanthal today. Yes Diwali is a few days away but I’ve got a long list to get through, and at 81, I have to pace myself, you see. I’m going to be making besan laddoos, gulab jamuns, kheer and much more this year.
Diwali is a Festival of Eats as much as it is a Festival of Lights!
Diwali is very much a stay-at-home affair for my husband Ram and I. Our daughter Geeta comes visiting with her own family. We do a havan and then talk, laugh and eat!
I lay out my spread on the table and then the home is open for visitors who keep dropping in all day. It is mainly our Indian friends that come to wish us Happy Diwali. (The non-Indian friends, I call a few days later).
In the evening we say our prayers and then light diyas which we place all over the house, in every room as well as outside. You could say we do it to invite Lakshmi in, or perhaps to fill our lives with light, the light of goodness and virtue.
We also call our son Pramod who lives in Germany. He’ll say ‘Look Mum, I played this santoor aarti’ or some such, just to show me that he is doing his bit for Diwali! I miss him at our Thursday dinner sessions at my place.
The day after Diwali is the Hindu New Year. We usually go over to our daughter Geeta’s.
I love this festive time of year. My best wishes to you for a Happy Diwali.
A tradition passed on
Neena Mehta
Diwali is a major event annually at my place. If it’s a weekend, we’ll have some 75 people over. Weekday Diwalis are much smaller, with only about six close family friends, all of who have kids of similar age. We’ve been getting together for some twenty years now.
We do a Gujarati style pujan, with a Ganpati sthapana first, then Lakshmi pujan with the silver coins etc, and then chopda pujan in which we seek blessings for our books. (Traditionally, Diwali is the start of the new financial year – traders would close their account ledgers for the previous year and open new ones. The new books would first be blessed by priests. Following this tradition, I usually buy a diary for the next calendar year, say 2016, and place it in the altar to be ‘blessed’).
There are rituals we do for five days preceding Diwali, including lighting of diyas morning and evening, and getting the house ready and clean for the big day. There’s rangoli of course, and we also put up electric lights outside the house, like Christmas.
We set this up as a routine so our kids would learn the Diwali tradition, and our culture and our values. My own son Shubhang is 20 now and participates whole-heartedly. He does the rangoli too! And at puja, he knows, like the other kids, to bow before the gods and then to the parents and elders.
There are Diwali gifts too, and the kids have been exchanging gifts among themselves for years. When they were younger, the sparklers were a big deal.
It is wonderful to get together with all our close friends at Diwali, and it is particularly pleasing for us that we have passed this tradition on successfully to our young ones.
The economics of Diwali
Sunila Forsyth
Diwali at my place has got to be catered to my Aussie husband John’s understanding! My dad lives with us so he conducts the family puja in our mandir at home. He reads the mantras and then explains them in English for the benefit of our kids Elina (who’s 13 and a half) and Alec (who’s 5). The kids bring out their Indian clothes for our little ceremony and afterwards we have halwa for prashad.
Later on, we have our ‘shop’ activity. This is something my brother and I used to do at Diwali as kids. The kids set up ‘shop’ with sweets or toys, something small for each member of the family, and we ‘purchase’ these from them with money. The kids get to keep the money as their gift. This is our version of the economic aspect of Diwali, all respect to Lakshmi mata!
If Diwali falls on the weekend, it suits us so much better! A weekday Diwali, like this year, will be quite rushed. Still, it’s going to be fun!
A dance for the goddess
Sam Goraya
Diwali has always been about getting together with friends and family, feasting, and filling our homes with light at night.
Growing up in India, we used to all descend upon my eldest uncle’s home, all of us from the entire clan! The cousins would get together and have fun, and the mums and aunties would cook up tonnes of food and mithai. It was plenty of fun. Diwali night was special puja (prayers) and we’d watch as our parents offered silver coins to their chosen deities. Then we’d have diyas and candles and the firecrackers would begin to blast off! Later on, we would all sit down to play cards, with small amounts of money of course – it was all just token, so as to bring Lakshmi (the Goddess of Prosperity) into the home.
Today in Australia I still do the good food, friends and sharing bit! I do a little puja too. And then I dance. As a dancer, my special kind of worship has to have an element of dance in it!
I perform a little Odissi routine for the goddess.
My partner Zlatko watches as I dance; he sits down with me at the puja too. I usually prepare some sooji halwa with saffron and we eat this as prashad. Zlatko likes it. We are both fond of pista, gulab jamun and rasagulas.
We also catch up with friends at Diwali. This year we are celebrating together with many families.
Zlatko knows a bit about Diwali, that it is the Festival of Lights and that it was a time of welcome for Rama and Sita as they finished their exile in the forests. He learned about it when we travelled to India together four years ago. India was celebrating Holi at the time and he became interested in our festivals. Last month we went to Odisha and he enjoyed it very much.
For my part, I love celebrating Christmas and Easter with him and his family.
‘Not A Diwali’ party
Edmond Roy
I’m looking forward to the big cook up.
Come Diwali every year, my wife Cheryl and I host a mega party for all our friends and family. There’s often in excess of a hundred guests. (Two hundred invites went out this year, but only 180 are finally coming!)
It’s not really a Diwali party, because we don’t celebrate Diwali in its traditional sense. It’s just an excuse to get 200 of our closest friends together and party all night! I hail from Kerala, and Onam, our big festival, has just passed, so the celebratory mood is still in. Plus Cheryl and I lived for a few years in Delhi and got into the whole ‘diyas and firecrackers and mithai’ thing!
We both do all the food ourselves at our big bash. Some 17-18 dishes… yes, that’s right! This year we’ve planned 20, actually! We cook in large earthen pots that I’ve brought in from my home in India; they’ve belonged to our family for some hundred years. These add a different dimension to our celebration, and give our guests a peek into our culture and traditions.
The menu is usually dominated by seafood: it’s a given, seeing as I come from Kerala! This year however I’ve concocted a special dish, in honour of India’s prime minister. I call it Modi Beef. Of course there’ll be plenty of saffron in it.
(This is in solidarity with the street beef parties held across India lately.)
And for the first time this year, we’ll have a bit of bhangra.
Cheryl and I have been hosting this event annually for some fifteen years now. We started small, with about ten guests, and then it grew from there. Now our friends and colleagues wait for the invite – I mean that literally, just to see how blasphemous it will be, ha ha!
Happy Diwali.
