WHAT’S ON

Festival

Melbourne Holi festival

Sun 10 Mar (11.30am - 7.30pm)

Enjoy Holi with your loved ones this year. At The Paddock, Federation Square. Details 0411 429 598.

Holi mela 2019

Sun 17 Mar (10.30am - 6.30pm)

Come along with your family to celebrate the day of colours with scrumptious food, camel rides, children’s rides, DJs and non-stop music at the Holi Mela 2019. At Tatterson Park, Cheltenham Rd, Keysborough, Victoria. Details 0411 429 598.

Holi

Thu 21 Mar (11.45am - 1.30pm)

Celebrate colour, love and triumph of good versus evil through the Holi Festival! Brighten up your day by throwing some colour around while enjoying free food and Indian music. At Holmesglen Institute, 1 Batesford Road, Chadstone. Details 03 9564 1555.

Stage

Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan

Sitar Recital

Sun 3 Mar (5.00pm onwards)

Described as ‘Indian music personified’, Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan comes to Melbourne for a scintillating Sitar performance. Accompanying him on the tabla will be Shri Hindole Majumdar, a disciple of tabla maestro Shri Shankha Chatterjee. At James Tatoulis Auditorium, Methodist Ladies College, 207 Barker Road, Kew. Details 0437 093 549.

Joshinder

Thu 7 Mar (6.30pm - 8.00pm)

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2019, watch Joshinder, a solo dance performance by renowned dancer, choreographer, actor, writer and producer Joshinder Chaggar. At Fitzroy Town Hall Reading Room, Fitzroy. Details 1300 695 427.

Babbu Maan Live In Concert

Sun 17 Mar (6.30pm onwards)

Enjoy a thrilling live performance by Babbu Mann. At Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Convention Centre Place South Wharf. Details 0421 983 039.

Harmony Day Celebration

Thu 21 Mar (7.00pm - 9.00pm)

Join in for a night of global music and storytelling celebrating the diversity of Boroondara.

Vinod Prasanna, an exquisite flautist who will perform Indian classical, world and meditation music in both traditional and contemporary styles of Hindustani, accompanied by tabla player AmanKalyan. At The Parkview Room, 8 Ingles by Road, Camberwell. Details 9278 4794.

Exhibition

Visions of Paradise

Till 26 Apr (10.00am - 5.00pm)

The exhibition features a selection of works from a major 1980 Felton Bequest acquisition of over 270 paintings that document the princely lifestyles of the Rajput courts of Bikaner, Marwar (Jodhpur), Jaipur, Kotar and Mewar (Udaipur). At NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road. Details www. ngv.vic.gov.au.

A Kantha Garden for Her

Thu 7 Feb to Sat 2 Mar (Tuesday to Friday, 11.00 am -5.00pm and Saturday, 11.00am - 3.00pm.)

Artist Natasha Narain presents paintings that address the Kantha textile tradition of India, an intergenerational form of story-telling. The Kantha textile tradition saw a personal and inter-generational, womencentred practice with narratives embroidered on worn, at times stained and frail muslin sarees. Venue: Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre, Corner of Walker and Robinson streets, Dandenong. Details 03 9706 8441.

Misc

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.

The Indian Music Collective Melbourne

The Indian Music Collective Melbourne provides space for practice/jamming in a friendly environment for musicians to meet and practice. Anyone who plays a Hindustani classical music instrument or can sing Hindustani classical music at any ability/level is welcome at St John’s Catholic Primary School, 77 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill. Listeners are also welcome. Gold coin to contribute towards tea/coffee/ snack costs. Contact Harjinder Bhogal at oldmanindia@gmail.com

UNIVERSITY

Australia India Institute’s Drop in Chai

First Friday of every month (2.00pm - 3.00pm)

Come chat to other South Asia enthusiasts over samosa and chai and catch up on what different people are doing in relation to India (feel free to bring announcements or new publications!). The chai and conversation is free and open to students, staff, faculty, and members of the public at Upstairs Seminar Room, Australia India Institute 147-149 Barry St, Carlton. Details 03 9035 8047 or visit www.aii.unimelb.edu.au

Privacy in India: a seminar Thu 14 Mar (6.00pm - 7.00pm)

New Generation Network scholar

Dr Pawan Singh will offer an overview of the Indian privacy debate and examine the medias cape and legal terrain on which privacy finds itself. At Australia India Institute Seminar Room, 149 Barry Street, Carlton. Details www. aii.unimelb.edu.au

Monash Multicultural Indian Club (MMIC) 2019 Membership

Mon 25 Mar 1.30pm – Sat 30 Mar 11.00pm: A platform where you can find a new family of friends, celebrate occasions, and taste cuisines with new international meet-ups of cultural exchange. Here, it’s easy for you to learn about other cultures but also to share your own. At Monash University Caulfield Campus 900 Dandenong Road, Caulfield East. Details at club.mmic@monsu.org

Community

Indian Women's Support Group

Mon 18 Mar (11.30am - 1.30pm)

Mental Health Foundation

Australia presents Indian Women's Support Group for social interaction and combat isolation. At Penrose Community Centre, 83 Penrose Promenade, Tarneit. Details 03 9826 1422.

Indian Professionals 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

Indian Community Mental Health Support Group

For families and carers both who are experiencing mental health concerns. Every First Friday of the month. From 2.00pm-4.30pm.

At Yarra Plenty Reginal Library (Mill Park Library), 394 Plenty Rd, Mill Park. Details Carer helpline 1300 554 660 or email carers@ mindaustralia.org.au

Indian Young Women’s Group

Fridays 12.30pm-2.30pm

The Indian Young Women’s Group is organised free by Wyndham Community and Education Centre (Wyndham CEC) every Friday afternoon at the Wyndham Park Primary School, Community Hub Room, Kookaburra Avenue, Werribee. Contact the Wyndham Community and Education Centre, 3 Princes Highway Werribee, wyndhamcec.org.au or call 03 9742 4013.

Let’s Feed

A volunteer-driven campaign and fundraising group working to organise activities, source food and deliver it to different agencies and also assist family violence victims with food related needs.

Let’s Feed fills food-related gaps in existing services using micro donations. Let’s Feed collects non-perishable food from local groups at temples, participating grocery stores and delivers to Youth Resource Centre, Asylum

Seekers Resource Centre and other agencies.

Visit: letsfeed.org or email: jasvinder.sidhu@letsfeed.org

LANGUAGE

Gurukul Hindi Classes

Saturdays 11.00am-12.00 noon

Connections@Craigieburn, 59 Craigieburn Road, Craigieburn VIC 3064. These weekly classes are taught by Manisha Gard and Bhupinder Kahlon. Contact Narinder Garg 0431 123 045 or infothegurukul@gmail.com

Let’s Talk:

Conversational English

Saturdays 10.00am-11.30am

Practice and develop your English speaking skills in a relaxed small group that has a warm and friendly atmosphere. Meet every Saturday at Werribee Church of Christ, 200 Tarneit Road, Werribee. This is for people who want to gain confidence and practice their English. All are welcome to attend, morning tea is provided and it’s free. Contact 03 9741 6051 or visit werribeechurchofchrist.org

Pronunciation Workshop

1st Sunday of the month 12.00 noon – 3.00pm

Are you learning English as a second language and are interested in working on your pronunciation? Join Kaled – a friendly ESL (English as a Second Language) expert who will help you work on your English language skills for free at the Library at The Dock, Activities Room, 107 Victoria Harbour Promenade, Docklands.

Misc

Spice it up

Sat 2 Mar (5.00pm – 8.00pm)

Learn how to create your own garam masala from scratch. Plus, a feast after the session with plenty of chatter and perhaps the odd glass of wine. At Mansfield Secondary College (Hospitality Centre), 15 View Street, Mansfield. Details 03 5775 2022.

North Indian Thali - cooking workshop

Sun 3 Mar (10.00am - 2.00pm)

Cook the delicacies of traditional North Indian ‘thali’. Learn tips and tricks along with the nutritional and health benefits of spices and herbs. At Yarraville Community Centre, 59 Francis Street, Yarraville.

Details 03 9687 1560.

World Storytelling Day

Wed 20 Mar (2.00pm - 3.00pm)

Join international storyteller Dee Palanisamy, as she weaves tales from around the world to celebrate World Storytelling Day. Be enthralled with tales from Greek and Indian mythology and join in for a delightful morning of stories. At Mornington Library, Vancouver Street, Mornington. Details 03 5950 1710.