A Diwali prayer at Parliament House

The annual Diwali celebrations at the New South Wales Parliament House was one of the most colourful and multicultural events in Sydney, to say the least. From the light-decked Parliament to traditional Indian dances, the celebrations alongside Australian political bigwigs, including NSW Premier Nathan Rees, resonated with the true spirit of the festival and reflected the links the community had forged with its adopted country.

A home away from home for Indian migrants and expatriates here, the festivities were distinctly reminiscent of the joy associated with Diwali in the sub-continent, minus of course the fireworks. Nearly a 100 people from the Indian and Australian community had gathered at the event on the night of Wednesday 21 Oct.

Acknowledging that Diwali is a unique festival that holds special significance to not just Hindus in diverse India, but for also people from different religious backgrounds, Rees, who was taking part in the celebrations for a second consecutive year, said Diwali is increasingly becoming “one of the key community events of the Australian calendar”.

“Diwali is central to your cultural and spiritual lives, and a great enrichment to the cultural fabric of Sydney, NSW and Australia. We work hard together and we play harder together in cricket,” joked Rees.

The recent spate of attacks against Indian students, however, was not lost on Rees or the other officials who spoke on the occasion.

“We know some of the issues that have been brought to the surface particularly in Victoria but also right here in Sydney with regards to Indian students in Australia. Well before the highlighting of security issues, we had already set up a ministerial task force to look at all the issues of international education in NSW. That report is being prepared and is under consideration. There are recommendations which will assist Indian students in NSW that will be implemented without delay.”

“Many of you were at the round table meeting that were held in response to the Victorian issue where I convened with community leaders and student representatives so that we could chart a plan to prevent the sort of issues that had occurred in Melbourne.”

He also announced the launch of the much anticipated Z-card that will provide key information on NSW to Indian students before they leave home to pursue their studies. The card is being prepared following consultations and workshops with students and the NSW Community Relations Commission (CRC) to equip students with information on a range of issues pertaining to transport, accommodation, health, legal matters, interaction with the police, tenancy and industrial rights.

“One of the issues was the shortage of basic information, emergency system, commercial and industrial rights, tenancy issues. I am happy to announce that we have come up with a new approach and we have put together with the help of CRC, a pocket size compendium of information that addresses all the issues that have been raised. That card will soon go in to production and we will begin distributing it to students before they even leave for Australia,” he added.

The Premier is set to visit India shortly – he will be there just after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd concludes his own New Delhi trip.

The Indian Consul General Amit Dasgupta noted that the distinguishing common factor between the two countries was that they were both ‘consistently, persistently and very strongly parliamentary democracies’.

“India recently had its elections where 417 million people voted. As we speak, we have a parliamentary secretariat delegation that is in Canberra following procedures in the Parliament that we can learn from. This delegation would be in Sydney next week. I dare say there will be much we can learn from and improve,” he observed.

Touching on the student issues, he said, “In the last six or seven months I have been here as part of my tenure, it was extraordinary for me at the time of deep crises, receive the kind of support from parliamentarians, from the Premier of NSW, the police, the administration and from everyone else I have been in contact and in touch with. This possibly was the principal reason as to why, while there were a large number of incidents in certain other cities, NSW was mercifully one where the Indian community felt very safe.”

Comparing the festival’s light to transparency and accountability, Dasgupta said, “I think the student issue has allowed the system to see better, where the inadequacies lie and therefore find a way of correcting it.”

John Aquilina, Leader of the House, and a regular at Diwali and other community celebrations, took the cue too.

“Light helps show us the way,” he said. “I would like to think today one way in which we are looking forward is showing the way towards greater understanding of one another, greater interaction and integration of the multicultural community, showing the way for our Indian community from so many different parts of India to be able to enjoy the experience of being in Australia. Light stands for knowledge. We are hoping to know more about each other, very important part of our community.”

Minister for Citizenship, Virginia Judge, who helped light up Parliament House as part of the Deepavali Festival of Light celebrations, said, “The Rees Government is proud to be taking part in one of the most colourful cultural events in New South Wales. Deepavali is the largest festival on the Indian sub-continent and literally means rows of lights. With nearly 100,000 Indians living in NSW, the festival plays an important role in strengthening and building intercommunity relationships.” She added that the festival was a ‘positive and uplifting celebration that represents hope, renewal, forgiveness and compassion’.

Taking off with a puja and light of the lamp, the festivities concluded with traditional dances by a number of youngsters. Prominent figures from the Indian community were present at the event. Raj Datta, who was instrumental in bringing Diwali to the NSW Parliament and who has coordinated the event ever since its inception, provided the vote of thanks.

This marks the sixth year the Parliament House has turned on its lights for Diwali.

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