WHAT’S ON

INDIA’S 73RD INDEPENDENCE DAY

Consulate General of India (Sydney)

Thur 15 Aug (9.00am - 11.00am)

Flag hoisting ceremony at the Consulate (Level 2, 265 Castlereagh St, Sydney). This will be followed by a delivery of the message from the President of the Republic of India by the Consul General of India in Sydney. Plus, colourful cultural performances and light refreshments. Friends of India in Sydney and members of the Indian community along with their friends and family are cordially invited to celebrate the occasion.

Details 02 9223 2702

Parramatta

Thur 15 Aug (11.30am - 12.30am)

The City of Parramatta will organise an Indian Flag raising ceremony at Centenary Square Parramatta.

SCREEN

Turban Legend, SBS

Wed 14 Aug (8.30pm onwards)

Learn the story of the Gujral family, of hospitality empire Manjit’s fame.

STAGE

Soumitra Sarkar

Sat 10 Aug Soumitra Sarkar presents Bollywood Dhamaka 2019 at St. Marys Memorial Hall, Cnr Great Western Highway and Mamre Rd, St. Marys. Details 0425 253 465

Guru Randhawa

Sun 11 Aug (7:00 pm onwards)

Punjabi singing sensation Guru Randhawa in concert at Whitlam Leisure Centre, 90A Memorial Ave, Liverpool.

Details Vishal 0405 656 786

Tishani Doshi

Tue 27 Aug (6.30pm - 8.00pm)

Critical Path presents Tishani Doshi in conversation with First Nations choreographer and dancer Amrita Hepi. Part performance, part video, part talk, this is an intimate evening with Indian contemporary dancer Tishani Doshi. Location: Parramatta Artists Studios, Level 1 & 2, 68 Macquarie St, Parramatta.

Details 02 9806 5230

Punjabi Virsa

Sat 31 Aug (7:00 pm onwards)

Punjabi Virsa 2019 Live In Concert at Diamond Showroom, Blacktown Workers Club, 55 Campbell St, Blacktown. Details 0452 337 387

FESTIVAL

Dildar Navratri Dandia by Kirtidan Gadhvi

Sat 17 Aug (7:00 pm to 11:30 pm)

Yuva Gujarat Inc (Gujarat Association of Australia) presents Dildar Navratri Dandia by Kirtidan Gadhvi at Whitlam Leisure Centre, 90 Memorial Ave Liverpool. Details Yuva Gujarat 02 8896 6244; www.yuvagujarataustralia.com

Janmashtami

Sat 24 Aug (6:30pm – 9:30pm)

Divine & Holistic and Australian School of Meditation & Yoga present Sri Krishna Janmashtami at Granville Town Hall, 10 Carlton Street, Granville. Featuring one of Australia's leading kirtan bands Ashraya.

ART

‘Storing & Remembering’

21 - 31 Aug Mother-daughter artist duo Panchali Sheth and Nikita Sheth present the exhibition

‘Storing & Remembering’ based on their shared interest in capturing the ideas surrounding forgetting and remembering; permanence and absence; and love and loss. Taking memory as a common point of departure, both artists create works that express something innately personal from their past: an experience, a conversation, a smell, a connection. Location: Sheffer Gallery, 38 Lander Street, Darlington, Sydney.

Details 02 9310 5683

Entertainment

Bhangra night

Fri 9 Aug (9.00pm onwards) Feel the Punjab at IVY, Level 2 Den, Lounge & Terrace. 330 George St, Sydney. Features include Bhangra, Bollywood, RNB, Urban Punjabi.

Holly Bolly - East Meets West

Fri 9 Aug (9:00pm onwards) Zeta

Bar, Hilton, 488 George St Sydney, featuring DJ Raze, DJ Sparsh, DJ Chris Choklate

Sangeet Mehfil

Sun 18 Aug (3:00 pm – 6:00 pm) Team India presents Saleem Zamaan’s Sangeet Mehfil featuring Naye Purane Filmi Geet. Location Franklin St, Parramatta.

Details 0416 049 763

Community

India Day Fair

Sat 10 Aug (12 noon – 9pm)

FIAN presents India Day Fair 2019 Parramatta Park.

Details 0413 375 669 info@fian.org.au

Indian Fair

Sun 11 Aug (11.00am – 5.00pm)

Desi Events presents Indian Fair 2019, a desi celebration of fashion, food and music at Hornsby Westfield Mall. Details 0423 516 105

Calling all Rajasthanis

17 Aug (5:30 pm – 10:00 pm)

Rajasthani Association of NSW Incorporated (RANI) marks Badi Teej Sinjara with its Kajari Teej

Ro Melo 2019 at Dundas Area Neighbourhood Centre, 21 Sturt Street, Telopea. Details email Australia.RANI@gmail.com

SENIORS

AASHA Foundation Australia (Ltd) organises seniors social hubs at various centres across Sydney. Allcommunities welcome. Activities include yoga, music, dance, networking, health talks, technology, health checks, light lunch.

Blacktown: First Wednesday of the month (11.00am – 2.00pm)

Westpoint Shopping Centre, 17 Patrick St, Blacktown (Community Room, next to gym, Fourth floor). Close to railway station.

Wentworthville: Fourth Saturday of the month (12.30pm – 4.30pm)

Wentworthville Community Centre, Grevillea Hall (next to library), 2 Main Street, Wentworthville. Close to railway station.

Hornsby: Second and Fourth Friday of the month (11.00am –2.00pm) Hornsby Youth & Family Community Centre, Cnr. Muriel and Burdett St, Close to railway station.

Crows Nest: Third Wednesday of the month (10.00am – 11.30am)

Music-based social gathering at Crows Nest Centre, 2 Ernest Place, Crows Nest.

Details Bijinder Dugal 0412 786 569

Seniors Rights Forum

Sat 24 Aug (1.00pm – 4.00pm)

AASHA Foundation Australia (Ltd) announces a forum on ageing and seniors rights, including Q and A with experts and free health checks.

Venue: Wentworthville Community Centre, 2 Lane St, Wentworthville.

Details Bijinder Dugal 0412 786 569

CLASSICAL

Abhijnana Shakunthalam

Sat 12 Oct (6.30pm onwards) To cele brate Diwali this year, charity organisation Vision 2020 has organised a grand ballet based on the great Indian poet Kalidasa’s immortal drama Abhijnana Shakunthalam . Exclusively choreographed by Sydney’s renowned artist Hamsa Venkat and presented by Samskriti School of Dance, it will be a rich cultural experience for all age groups.

Venue: Performing Arts Centre, Pacific Hills Christian School, 9-15 Quarry Road, Dural. Fresh food and free parking available. This year Vision 2020 is supporting a unique organisation REHOBOTH (Shelter) Paraniputhur in rural Tamil Nadu, which has been providing shelter and rehabilitation facilities to destitute women with mental health issues.

Details www.Vision2020.org.au

Exhibition

Archibald Prize 2019

Until 8 Sep Check out Australia’s most extraordinary art event that awards the best portrait artists for their paintings. South Asian artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran and Young Archie finalists Lakshman Nitish Ramesh and Anupama

Pangeni are hung in this year’s event. Also hung is a lovely portrait of iconic restaurateur Anant Singh who opened the famous Jasmin restaurant in Adelaide in 1980.

Venue: Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW

2000. Details 1800 679 278

Students

Essay writing competition

The Ambedkar International Mission Australia invites entries for its second annual essay writing competition, open to uni students across Australia and New Zealand. Topics:

1. Comparison of Dr Ambedkar’s contributions with any political philosopher of your choice OR

2. Salience of Dr Ambedkar in the coming decade in any one of the following aspects – Social justice, Affirmative action, Women’s empowerment, Nation building. 3000 words. First prize $300. Second prize $200. Third prize $100. Last date for submission

15 Nov 2019. Submit entries to aim.sydney2018@gmail.com.

Details Vaibhav Gaekwad 0415 469 525

Spiritual

Chinmaya Mission Australia

Saturdays Family programs (Balvihar classes) at Eastwood (3.00pm - 4.15pm) and at Strathfield (4.45pm - 6.00pm).

Details Chinmaya Sannidhi 02 8850 7400, 0416 482 149.

Sant Nirankari Mission Sydney weekly congregations

Sundays (5:30pm - 7:30pm)followed by community meals. Venue: Sant Nirankari Bhawan, 166 Glendenning Road, Glendenning.

Details Devinder 0403 216 084.

Yoga And Meditation

Lunch-time yoga and meditation

Mondays Art of Living Sydney presents free lunch-time Yoga sessions from 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm at Level 2, 265 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.

Thursdays The Brahma Kumaris Australia present meditation sessions from 12.15pm - 1.00pm at the Indian Cultural Centre, Level 2, 265 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Details 02 9223 2702. Register at icc2.sydney@mea.gov.in

Yoga at Spirit of India

Saturdays and Sundays, 15-week Yoga course. Also check out special yoga classes for children (5-12 years), adults and senior citizens (55 plus). Venues at Wentworthville, Quakers Hill, Pennant Hills, Auburn, Epping, Homebush, Ryde. Free Yoga class every Wednesday (5.30pm - 7.00pm) at Indian Consulate Cultural Centre, Level 2, 265 Castlereagh St, Sydney. Free meditation every Saturday (8.30am - 9.15am) at Wentworthville. Details www. spiritofindia.org or call Suresh 0412 202 182 or Raja 0402 789 109

Sahaja Yoga: Music and Meditation

Free sessions at multiple venues across Sydney. Details www. sahajayoga.com.au