Fed Square venue for Diwali Festival

Diwali or the “Festival of Lights” will be celebrated this year on October 30 at the Federation Square in Melbourne. If the success of past events is any indication, then about 60,000 people are expected to attend again this year, along with many local and overseas artists, as well as dignitaries from all walks of life.

This year the Diwali Festival will begin with a five day Film Festival from 25 –29 October. There will be free screenings of Bollywood movies daily, from 12pm on the big screen at Federation Square.

The main Diwali event on October 30 will showcase local and overseas talent like the 14-member Langa dance and singing troupe from Rajasthan, who will rock Melbourne with their powerful folk music and dance performances.

Through the day, attendees can witness a cultural extravaganza that will include Bollywood performances, a dance workshop and traditional dancing, a live band, fun activities and rides for children, and a special visit by Ranger Roo. There will also be henna (traditional hand painting) and a variety of Indian cuisine, crafts and fashion stalls. There will be a Diwali Boat on the Yarra, a fusion of Bollywood and Greek dancing, spectacular fireworks on the Yarra along with many surprise items. Federation Square Diwali’s charity partners are the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

According to festival coordinator Arun Sharma, to mark the occasion many of Melbourne’s iconic buildings will be illuminated for a longer period, in line with the extended programme this year. These will include The Victorian Parliament (from 25 - 30 October), Museum & Exhibition Building (30 - 31 October), Consulate General of India (25 October 0 5 November), Melbourne Airport’s Arrival & Departure Lounge (26 October - 5 November) and the Federation Square, in addition to many Indian homes and business premises.

In a brief interview prior to the event, Festival Coordinator Arun Sharma shared his vision and insight into the mega event. According to him, the whole idea behind Diwali at Fed Square began because his team wanted Diwali to be a mainstream celebration, not just an Indian festival. “It is good to see how over the years, Diwali has slowly started featuring