YOUR SAY

HARSHAD PANDHARIPANDE spoke to the grieving mum of Akanksha Kadam, who died in a car crash in Sydney last month. Condolences continued for the vivacious girl

Rupa Kumar wrote: Heart wrenching

Raghu Rules wrote: Sad a happy soul lost may her family get strength RIP Payel Ray Munni wrote: This is one of the saddest pieces of news that I have read. Rest in Peace, Akanksha. May I also inform all of you mainly youngsters who are coming to Australia as international students, please remember that you leave your loved ones behind. Please do not take any steps in Australia like swimming on a beach without professional lifeguards or give in to peer pressure of a long drive at night that will cause unimaginable heartache to the ones that you leave behind in India.

OUR VIDEO: INDIAN FESTIVAL MELBOURNE

Watch: People shake a leg to Tamma Tamma by Naach Box Priyanka Vajpayee wrote: Told you it’s going to be fun Nomi Qureshi wrote: How did we miss this?

Meenakshi wrote: Oh no! If only this had taken place in Sydney! So cool.

SHAFEEN MUSTAQ had written on what’s wrong with traditional norms and how the youth can help advance equality.

Raka Mitra wrote: To be fair, this happens across most communities. Across the world women are judged more harshly and men continue to have insecurities. It’s not Indians alone...Italians, Spanish, Mexicans, Orientals etc all single out women. Some cultures encourage their daughters to conform to a body image stereotype to ensure getting a man. However if I stick to the Sydney Indian community - I can hold my hand over my heart and say I’m quite lucky to be Bengali. I never appreciated this till several years ago....but Bengalis don’t push gender roles on their children. Don’t get me wrong, not trying to make a separatist or elitist comment...but it was an awakening of sorts for me...of exactly how open minded Bengalis are relative to others. I have never had an aunty/family tell me I need to be married to be happy or that my life is incomplete without marriage or pry into my personal life. On the contrary they have supported my decisions to travel alone, told me to never accept crap from a man and have always said that happiness is key, pursue that whatever it may be.

Betty Jager wrote: Never give up on your Indian culture, it is so very beautiful. I love India and her people

MEENAKSHI SEETHARAMAN wrote on how language teachers from across the Indian community brainstormed ideas to seek larger mainstream presence.

Chandra Kishore wrote: The Institutions which are running Hindi/Sanskrit and other language schools are commended for their great contribution to the society.

On one of the world’s legendary train journeys, The Ghan, Australia’s interior inspires awe for its vastness and ever changing landscape. PETRA O’NEILL wrote about her interesting journey

Khyati Raval wrote: On my bucket list!