
5 minute read
outa ainst omest1c v10 ence
from 2014-07 Brisbane
by Indian Link
The community comes out to support vulnerable women
Interfaitb communities comprising Hindus, l\foslims and Sikhs have come rogether in Queens land recently co spread awareness of domestic vio lence (DV) and its effects.
Coordinator of the DV awareness campaign , Ya.~nlill Khan, said the group wanted to take a proactive approach. "We wanted to own ~ome of the prob lems in the community for o nce a nd we wanted to cake on a leading role," she said. "Living in Australia, we wanted co show the women of our communities chat we are aware that this [domestic violence] is happening and we are d1ere for you"
The domestic v iolence awareness campaig n was officially la1md1ed in May at the Centre for Inter faith a nd Culrmal Dialogue at G ri ffith U niversity b y Tracy Davis, l\ linister for Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability services The initiative came about after Khan requested funding in t ovember 2013, and approached the local Sikh community to implement the campaign.
"Some of these women don't have the structural o r family support and they suffer in sile nce," Yasnlill Khan said, giving some insight as w why women often shy away from coming forward to talk about tl1ese issues.
The campaign is a series of four posters that have bee n sent across to gurudhwaras, mosques a nd temples across Queensland and also to commuuity groups that work with migrant women
"She may not have tl1e ability to gain access to support services or may be isolated in a new cow1rry. She may be married in to a respectable famil y and doesn't want the gossip or she may be new in the community and no-one knows who she is o r cares," Yasmin said
"Some women don't want their family broken up, they just wane the abuse to scnp. Unformnately d1ey may have grmvn up in a vio lent household and seen their mother experience violence, and many believe that is rhei t lor in life. That's why it's important for men to stand up to other men who are perpetrators. Remember, d1ese women could be your sisrer, yo ur mother or yom daughter".
The only statistics collected abouc domestic vio lence are for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. There is no collation o f data on ethnicity or religion
"Social networking sires like Face. book and Twitter have helped us take thi s campaign forward, I have already got responses from people from different pares of the world," Yasmin Khan said.
The new domestic violence campaign has also paved the way for "a fumre communi ty support system for DV and other cotlll11mi.ity issues, di.is wmild be a first for Queensland, we are currently in talks for setting up of this support," Yasmin said.
Anyone interested in volunteering at t be new commun.iry centre, especially if you are a qualified counsellor or psychologist in Brisba.ne, please get in touch wid1 Yasni.in at yas1nin@eidfest.com.au.
'We'll welcome you as we bring tli.is community group togetber".
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Brisbane witnesses its first ever Festival of Chariots
Attached co the chariot were two thick ropes which were pulled by over a hundred people.
Its journey began from Queens Park winding thrm1gh d1e s treets and ending at King George Square.
people ran out of the shops, or stopped by the roadside on the Samrday morning m get a good look.
A magnificent ha nd -drawn chariot was being pulled through the Br isbane CBD, with much fanfare and joy.
Tbe Festival of Chariots, the oldest and biggest street parade in the world was held for the first time in Br isbane this }"ear. It was organised by the International Society for Ki:ishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
"\Ve received permission from the Brisbane City Council to lockdown the CBD as the char iot passed through the streets," said Niti Sheth, festival organiser, speaking co fodian I.ink ac [<ing George Square.
Speciall y brought in from I ew Somh Wales, rue wooden chariot had a large red and yellow canopy decorated with swans, Aowers and Aags. It carried che deities of Jagannath, Baladev and Subhaclra.
Talking about the festival, Sheth said, "This festival da tes back to over 2000 years, originating in Jagannatha Puri on che east coast of lndi a. It is traditionally known as the Rat hyatra. le was taken to the US in 196 7 by the founder of the Hare Krishna movement, His D ivine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada The festival is now celebrated in over 200 cities across the world"
In India, thousands gad1er at the Jagannatha teruple to witness a massive royal chariot carrying the temple deities, pulled through d1e city streets (Those who saw the parade in Brisbane's CBD, will have no doubts now about the origin of the term 'juggernaut') lt is a privilege for Hindus to gee an opportun ity tO participate in the pulling.
In its Brisbane avatar, the free festival became a celebration of peace, harmony and joy, extended m a fun filled day at King George Square, whe re there was something for everyone. \lv'id1 dances and drama, vec\ic culture and Ayurveda stalls, henna, face painting and craft workshops for kids, gift shops, there was India in the air! The delicious vegetarian meal being served m no cost, was particularl y popular.
People from diverse cul tures thronged the venue co be a parr of this wonderful festival.
Tirene, an onlooker, found herself absorbed in che saridrapi n g de monstration "This festival is so colourful and it is all so welcoming," she to ld Jndia11 U11k.
Narada Ri s hi, an ISKCON devotee, said, "It is good to see ancient culture being embraced in om modern times. It bas been such a successful turnout and the cro\vd has been so receptive".
Chef Ranchor Dasa, also of ISKCON, was passionate abom the vegetarian cuisine that was being so popular on the day.
" W/e are what we eat," he said with convi ction. "\'{le need to expose peop le to the delicio u s vegetarian cuisine and create opportunities for holistic vegetarian food"
He conducts week ly vegetarian cooki ng classes at the Govin da's Vegetarian Restaurant in Brisbane He shared a sweet recipe with us:
Blueberry Ha lva
Ingredients
I cup semolina l cup sugar
2 cups water
-¼ cup bmter
1 cup b lueberries
Method
Roast the semolina with the butter. Boil the water and sugar. l\forge the syrup in roasted semolina. Stir in the blueberries. Cover for five minutes.
Just as Ranchor Dasa's generously- shared recipe is a modem twist to an o ld favourite, so coo i s the festival.