What’s on

People’s Discussion Group for ages 17 and over. Theme: Emotional Intelligence. Sun 15 Dec 5.30-7.30pm Avijit Sarkar & Friends. Free early evening concert of devotional songs. Complimentary tea/ coffee, sweets & savouries provided.

Venue: Vedanta Hall, 15 Liverpool Road, Croydon. Details 02 9745 4320 or email: admin.saradavedanta@ bigpond.com. Website: www.saradavedanta.org

Sri Sudarshana Homam

Sat 27 Oct JET Australia presents Sudarshana Homam at Dundas West Uniting Church Hall, 181 Park Road, Dundas. Details www. jetaustralia.org

FESTIVAL Navratri

Sat 20 Oct Navratri Cultural Group presents Raas Garba at Michael Wenden Aquatic Leisure Centre 62 Cabramatta Road, Miller (Near Liverpool) NSW 2168. 6.30pm –11.00pm. Details Nimesh Shah 0437 980 296.

Deepavali Milan

Sat 10 Nov Celebrate Diwali with friends on the North Shore: Laxmi Poojan, cultural program, lucky draw prizes, dinner. Town Hall, 1186 Pacific Highway, Pymble NSW, 6.00pm. Details Kamini Sahni 0401 059 923.

Vision 2020 Diwali Dinner

Sat 10 Nov Vision 2020 celebrates Diwali with a 3-course dinner and variety entertainment at Asquith Community Centre, 10a Old Berowra Road, Hornsby. It is also organising the ordering of Diwali sweets and savouries from Grand Sweets Adayar Ananda Bhavan, Chennai. Details Vision 2020au@gmail.com

STAGE

Classical music concert

Sat 17 Nov Sarod player Steve Oda (a senior disciple of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan) and tabla player Ty Burhoe (senior disciple of Ustad Zakir Hussain) present a concert in classical north Indian tradition, at Manly Yoga, 27 Pittwater Rd, 7.30pm onwards. (Workshop on 18 Nov). Details www.TalaRecords. com

FUNDRAISER

Opportunity International’s Food for Thought

Food for Thought: “Eat. Drink. Be Generous” invites Australians to host a meal for friends and family in October to raise funds and awareness for impoverished communities in honour of International Day for Eradication of Poverty on Oct 17. To register your event, please go to www.foodforthoughtevent.org.au

I-India Project’s Diwali Night

Sat 10 Nov I-India Project is organising a wonderful night of themed entertainment including Bollywood singing and dancing, magic and comedy. Grand Ballroom, Four Seasons Hotel, 199 George St, Sydney, 6.30pm. Details Renate Barnett 0402 958 582.

Cancer Council NSW’s Blacktown Relay For Life

27 - 28 Oct Relay For Life is an event for survivors of cancer, for their carers, for those of us who have lost a loved one to cancer, and for people who just want to make a difference. It is a special community event at Blacktown International Sports Park, Eastern Rd Rooty Hill, where people come together to fundraise and walk in hope that one day cancer will be defeated. Fun activities for kids, fundraising stalls, health stalls and jumping castles, live entertainment featuring Celtic Highlanders and fireworks.

Details Nathan Dart 02 9354 2004 or email nathand@nswcc.org.au

Blood Donation Camp

Sat 20 Oct Australia Tamil Association conducts its 13th Blood Donation Camp between 11.15am to 11.30am at the Red Cross Blood Donor Centre in Rosehill. Details Prathap Ramachandran 0432 016 639

MISC

Going to the Mahakumbh next year?

Australian independent documentary film-maker Mark Gould is searching for Hindu Australians who intend to go to the upcoming Maha Kumbh Mela at Allahabad (Prayag) in Feb 2013.

ABC TV’s religious program Compass (6.30pm Sundays) is keen to tell the story of this sacred journey and what it means to the devotees.

The subjects of the film would need to be prepared to share their stories, their bhakti and relationship to their faith on camera in a documentary focussed on this special pilgrimage - why they are making it and what they hope to gain from this great event.

The ideal subjects would be devout Australian Hindusindividuals or a family who are articulate about their faith and keen to reconnect with their Hindu traditions. Details Mark Gould 0419 635 614 or email mark@BondiRocksMedia.tv

Being South Asian and GLBTIQ Sat 3 Nov Trikone Australia, a GLBTIQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning) group comprising South Asian-Australians and

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South Asians living in Australia, is organising an Open Forum with the aim of exploring avenues to survive, evolve and move forward while being both South Asian and GLBTIQ. It also hopes to bring untold stories to the surface as members negotiate the complex social dynamics of being South Asian as well as GLBTIQ. Venue ACON, 414 Elizabeth St, Sydney. Details Kalani 0434 504 306 or email contact.trikone@gmail.com

VHP Australia

VHP Australia is seeking volunteer teachers to teach Hindu Dharma in Public Schools (approved by the Dept of Education). Training and materials will be provided. Details Akila Ramarathinam 02 8814 7016.

Sydney Veda Patasala is open for children and adults. It involves Vedic chanting and Sanskrit language. Classes are held at on Sundays Baulkham Hills, Carlingford, Moorebank and Westmead. Details Sri Subbuji 0425 284 501.

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Bala Samskara Kendra (Sanskrit Language, Indian Culture and Heritage School for children) operates out of Toongabbie, Moorebank, Hornsby and Flemington. Students learn Sanskrit language (writing, reading, speaking and reciting poems). Details Rohini Srinivasan 02 9863 3067.

Rahul Dravid at St George cricket function

Thurs 1 Nov Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid will be the guest speaker at the St George Grade Cricket Club’s Annual Dinner to be held at Club Central, Hurstville. He will be interviewed by renowned cricket journalist Mike Coward. Details St George Club CEO Jon Jobson 02 9580-0101.