WHAT’S ON

Festival

Swaminarayan Mandir Diwali

Sat 3 Nov (3.00pm - 9.00pm) Diwali at Shree Swaminarayan Temple Melbourne 69 Wadhurst Drive, Wantirna South. Highlights include food and variety stalls, kids’ zone, stage performances. Details Atulbhai 0424 679 713.

Wyndham Diwali

Sat 3 Nov (Midday - 10.00pm) Presidents Park, Wyndham Vale. Details www.wyndhamdiwali.com

Diwali cruise

Sat 3 Nov, Sat 10 Nov (7.00pm - 11.30pm) Oorja Entertainment organises Diwali on a Victoria Star cruise. The cruise will depart from Dock 14, Central Pier, 161 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands. Highlights include music, food, photo shoot, separate kids’ area and entertainment. Details oorjaentertainment.com

Hume Diwali

Sat 3 Nov (1:00pm - 9:00pm)

Multicultural Festival Group organises Diwali at Anzac Park, Aitken Boulevard, Craigieburn. Highlights include carnival rides, market stalls, food stalls, henna tattoos, live DJ, stage performances and much more. Details email humediwali@gmail.com

Diwali & Bandi Chhor Divas

Celebrations

Sat 3 Nov (3.00pm - 11.00pm)

Hosted by Khalsa Education Society, this Diwali festival will be on at the Galada Community Centre, 10A Forum Way, Epping. Experience a whole showcase of Sikh culture, music and heritage. With free vegetarian food on offer, this will be served all day, and everyone is welcome to attend. Details khalsaeducation.com.au

AIII Diwali

Sun 4 Nov (11:30am - 9:30pm) Dr

RnB Entertainment organises the 17th

AIII Diwali at Springers Leisure Centre, 400 Cheltenham Road, Keysborough, 17th. Highlights include 10 hours of non-stop entertainment, DJ music, dance performance, singing, stand-up comedy, lucky draws with exciting prizes, camel ride, kids’ rides, food stalls, henna, jewellery, clothing & fashion stalls exclusive fashion show, fireworks at 8:30 pm. Details 0411 429 598 or email drrnbentertainment@gmail.com

Dandenong Diwali

Sun 4 Nov (10:00am - 4:00pm)

Foodie Trails presents Diwali at Dandenong Market, Dandenong. Highlights include dance performances by Kathak dance by Sanchita Abrol, Sri Lankan traditional and folk dancing by Vishver Rangayathanaya, Cathy Lee Danceworks, Bharathanatyanjali School of Dance, Bollydazzlers and Bhangra Regiment Melbourne. Also featuring free henna hand art and free sari wrapping. Details www. foodietrails.com.au

Cardinia Diwali Festival 2018

Sat 10 Nov (5.30pm - 10.00pm)

Indian Association Cardinia Casey presents Diwali at Gumbuya World, 2705 Princes Hwy, Tynong

Footscray Diwali

Sun 11 Nov (Midday - 9:00pm)

Indian Cultural Association of Victoria presents Diwali at Footscray Park. Highlights include Bollywood dancing, cultural performances, children’s entertainment, traditional Indian clothing and jewellery stalls and yummy food. Plus, a spectacular fireworks display to finish off. Details www.footscraydiwali.com.au

Diwali at Bunjil Place

Sun 11 Nov (12 midday - 9.00pm)

Foodie Trails presents Diwali at Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick NE Dr, Narre Warren. Highlights include performances by Ragas Institute, Bollydazzlers

Dancetroupe, Jana Garjana Dhol Pathak, Masala Bhangra, Shezwan SOS, Tiya Dance Troupe & Academy Melbourne, Ranjhe. Also featuring Indian handicrafts, henna, sari wrapping, and plenty of Diwali food. Details www.foodietrails.com.au

SPIRITUAL

Lecture series

Thu 1 Nov - Sat 4 Nov The Vedic Society of Victoria’s main event this year is a series of lectures by Sri Gopalavallidasar at the Scholastica

Centre in Bennetswood. Details Geeta Sarathy 0417 924 365.

Misc

Mental support group

Fri 2 Nov (2.00pm - 4.30pm) The Indian community mental health support carers group provides an opportunity for participants to connect with others who have similar experiences and gain strength and emotional support. At Yarra Plenty Regional Library, 394 Plenty Road, Mill Park. Details 1300 554 660.

Rockers Rajyotsava Cup

Celebration 2018

Sat 3 Nov (6.00pm - 10:30pm)

Rockers Cricket Club hosts Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations with cultural programs, food, kids’ games and many more fun filled events. Venue 37-53 Dolphin St, Aspendale. Details Yogesh 0432 725 743

Prapancha Telugu Sahithi

Sadassu

3-4 Nov Telugu Association of Australia Inc presents Telugu event at Glen Waverley Community Centre 700 Waverley Road Glen Waverley. Details Sreeni Katta 0413 398 940 or email president@taai.net.au

Seminar on Employment Rights

Sat 17 Nov (10:30am - 1:30pm)

Ever felt like your job pays less than it should? Ever been mistreated at work or told to do something that felt unsafe? Looking for work but don’t know what pay and conditions you should be offered? Find out what your workplace rights are at this seminar, organised by Shirdi Sai Sansthan Melbourne Inc. in collaboration with the Migrant Workers Centre. There will also be an immigration lawyer who will present on visa issues and pathways. Venue 32 Halley Avenue, Camberwell. Details shirdisai.net.au

Indian Professional in Victoria (IPV) A not-for-profit, membershipbased and member-owned association that aims to train and support Indian professionals and entrepreneurs through workshops, seminars, webinars and mentoring programs. Membership details www. ipv.org.au

Haadu Baa Kogile

Melbourne’s first ever Kannada musical event held every last Saturday of the month. All welcome. Organised by Ankura Music School. Details 0432 192 424 or haadubaakogile@gmail.com

Entertainment

Nikhil Chinappa

2 Nov (9.30pm onwards)

DJ night with Nikhil Chinappa and Nawed Khan at Seven Club, 52 Albert Rd, South Melbourne. Details 0401 101 661

Fundraiser

The Great Australian Curry Challenge

The Great Australian Curry is Opportunity International’s annual fundraising campaign where families across Australia are invited to cook a curry, share it with friends and raise funds to help families journey out of poverty. Opportunity uses the funds to provide families in India, Indonesia and the Philippines with small loans to build businesses, earn regular incomes, educate their children and break the cycle of poverty in which their families have been trapped for generations. Opportunity’s microfinance lending partners are assisting 5.8 million families in predominantly rural and remote areas by providing financial inclusion and support, including loans of a few hundred dollars each, to work their way out of poverty.

To get involved, head to www.au.opportunity.org and set up a fund-raising page. Invite your friends, family or colleagues along to enjoy your curry and show their support by donating through your fundraising page. You can share a spice night at home, host a curry cook-off at work or let the professionals do their thing by heading out to enjoy a curry at a restaurant.

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