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Brisbane discovers the joy of Diwali through day-long celebrations of the festival

As Indians ail over t h e world celebrated the Festival of Lights, Brisbane rook to the stage with its own Diwali celebrations.

Diwali or Deepavali is a fiveday festival, and symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali commemorates the auspicious day when Lord Ram remrned wid1 Sita and Laxman to the kingdom of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, vanquishing d1e evil king Raavan.

Organised by the Federation of Indian Communities Queensland (FlCQ) and supported by Brisbane City Council,

Queensland Government, Springfield Land Corporation and Adaui i'vlining Group, rue Indian Festival of Lights was held at King George Square in the heart of the Brisbane city, on November 2, from "11am to 11pm.

As the Diwali festivities took centrestage caking over the entire city for the day, King Geo rge Square was transformed into an outdoo.r auditorirnn, with hundreds of chairs centrally lined up with the stage in focus. Stalls bordering on either side sold everything from vibra n t outfits and cable TV to food stalls offering an array of exquisite, mourh-watering ly delicious lndian food.

Bollywood melodies boomed through the air, even through the aisles of the Queen Street mail.

When the festivities began, ilie day provided endless emettainment with a range of dance performances like Bollywood, ka rh ak, classical, bh aratnatyam, Assamese folk dances and bhangra.

The program also included a 'welcome to land' prayer recited by an Indigenous elder, speeches by Graham Quirk, Lord Mayor of Brisbane; federal i\lIPs Bernie R ipoll and l'v[s Gambaro; Archana Singh, cbe Indian Honorary Consulate; and Samir Vora, CEO Adnani Mining Pry Ltd

A highlight was the honouring of the Queensland Premier Campbell Newman as die 'Honorary Indian of the Year' fo r die state of Queensland. He received a plaque and a sill, scarf in trne lnclian tradition.

One o f the key orgauisers of the event, Dr P Naidu Bodapati, President of FICQ spoke to Jndidn Link abom the event.

"Th e Indian Festi\Tal of Lights is an event we hold every year r.ight here in the centre of Brisbane to celeb rate me festival o f Diwali, and each )' ear it gets bigger and bigger!" he said.

"As d1e day progresses and people co m e and go, we expect a mrnour of approximately 20,000 people throughout me day. Gene rall y it gets nmch b u si er after 5pm, and that's when v is itors gee a true feel of die festivities," added Dr Bodapati.

As evening came ro d1e city, as promised, the grounds became busier as people on their way h ome wandered over to view the festi,Tities w id1 awe. The atmosphere was filled with a joyous buzz as people gOL into the full swing of the event, enjoying d1e entertainment and in dulging in mouth -waterin g Indian de licacies!

The Indian Festival of Lights in Brisbane was indeed a ce lebration away from home, a day filled widi festive Joy!

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If this visa was a subclass 572, 573 or 574 visa and your studies end soon, you need to think about your plans now.

This may i nclude choosing to return home or to apply for another Australian visa to study, work or travel. Remember that you must have a valid visa to stay in Austral i a Time is running out to apply for t r ansitiona l arrangements to work or study.

Applications close 31 December 2012.

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