WHAT’S ON

Festival

Little India Street Fair

19 Oct (12.30pm - 10.00pm) CIA celebrates Diwali with a street fair on Wigram St, Harris Park.

Details 0423 894 531

AHIA Diwali

Sat 19 Oct (7.00pm onwards)

Australian Hindi Indians Association Inc presents its annual Diwali gathering at The Sapphire Room, Croatian Club, 921 Punchbowl Rd, Punchbowl. As AHIA marks its silver jubilee this year, the theme for the evening is: Silver.

Details 0411 967 374

Penrith Durga Puja

Sat 19 Oct (10.00am - 5.00pm)

Swagatam organises Durga Puja celebrations at Thornton Community Centre, 61 Lord Sheffield Drive, Penrith. Main features include Puja, kids’ activities, lunch, cultural program and sindhurkhela.

Hindu Council Deepavali

Sun 20 Oct (11.00am - 9.00pm)

Bella Vista Farm, Norwest Boulevard and Elizabeth Mac Arthur Drive, Bella Vista.

Details www.hinducouncil.com.au

Opera House Diwali

Mon 21 Oct (6.30pm onwards) The Government of NSW will have the Sydney Opera House lit up for the Hindu Festival of Lights, Diwali.

Diwali at Gordon Library

Tue 22 Oct (5.00pm - 6.30pm)

Ku-ring-gai Council event for young children and families. Venue: Gordon Library, 799 Pacific Highway, Gordon. Bookings essential. Details 02 9424 0120. Details www.kmc.nsw.gov.au

Winston Hills Mall

Thur 24 and Fr 25 Oct (10.00am - 2.00pm daily) Outside Coles Supermarket. Events include fresh food sampling, henna body art and roving Bollywood performances by Nartan Institute of Performing Arts.

Cumberland Council Diwali

Sat 26 Oct (5.00pm - 9.00pm)

An evening of entertainment, live performances, rides and cultural fun at Station St Wentworthville.

Details 02 8757 9000

Kids’ Diwali

Sun 27 Oct (10.00am - 4.00pm)

BAPS organises a Kids’ Diwali event including rides, games, cultural shows, food stalls, exhibition. Venue: Grand Pavillion, Rosehill Gardens, James Ruse Drive, Rosehill.

Details 02 9760 2277

Hindu New Year & Annakut Festival (Festival of Gratitude)

Mon 28 Oct (11.00am - 5.00pm)

BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Sydney presents Annakut at Rosehill Gardens, James Ruse Drive, Rosehill. Details 02 9760 2277

Chinmaya Mission Diwali

Sun Oct 27 (5:00 pm - 7:00 pm)

Chinmaya Sannidhi (Ashram) 38 Carrington Rd, Castle Hill. Details 02 8850 7400

IIT Alumni Diwali

Sat 2 Nov (6.00pm – 10.30pm) The IIT Alumni Association of Australia celebrates Diwali at Le Beach Hut Restaurant, 179 Russell Ave, Dolls Point. Details www.iitaa.org.au

Telugu Deepavali

Sat 2 Nov (4:00 pm - 10:00 pm)

Telugu Association Inc Sydney celebrates Deepavali Vedukalu 2019 at Durga Devi Temple Auditorium, 21 Rose Crescent, Regents Park. Details www.sydneytelugu.org

Deepavali at Strathfield

Sun 3 Nov (11.00am - 5.00pm)

Strathfield Park, Homebush Rd, Starthfield. Features include cultural program, merchandise stalls, food stalls. Details www.hindicouncil.com.au

LECTURE-DISCUSSION

Leader | Leadership | Nation

Sat 19 Oct (2.00pm - 4.30pm) Indian Overseas Congress Australia presents a discussion to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 115th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Key speakers include Anil Shastri (son of Lal Bahadur Shastri, former union minister and chairman LBSIM) and Prof Uma Mesthri (scholar and great granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi). Venue: Theatre EA.G.18, Western Sydney University, Rydalmere.

Details 0431 106 392

William Dalrymple

Thur 31 Oct (6.30pm - 7.30pm)

UNSW Centre for Ideas presents writer and historian William Dalrymple talking on ‘The Relentless Rise of the East India Company’ based on his new book The Anarchy. Venue: Sir John Clancy Auditorium, High Street (Gate 9), UNSW Kensington.

Details 02 9385 1000 or email centreforideas@unsw.edu.au

Classical

Krishnaarpanam

Sun 20 Oct (5:0pm - 8:00 pm)

Marking its 10th anniversary, performing arts organisation Silambam Sydney, presents Bharatanatyam production Krishnaarpanam, based on the lilas (playful pastimes) of Lord Shri Krishna. Venue: UNSW Sydney, Entry Gate 14, Barker St Kensington. Details www.arunagandhi.com/ silambamsydney

COMMUNITY

Punjabi Mela: Himmat Sandhu & Labh Heera

Fri 18 Oct (6:00pm - 11:00pm)

Bowman Hall, 35 Campbell St Blacktown. Details 0404 724 923

Sakhi Ga Sakhi

Sat 19 Oct (10.00am - 6.00pm)

Marathi Association Sydney Inc. (MASI) presents Sakhi Ga Sakhi Venue: Durga Auditorium, Regents Park

STAGE

Taj Mahal: A Timeless Love Story Sat 26 Oct Swastik Productions presents Taj Mahal in dance, Riverside Theatre Parramatta. Details www.tajmahalsydney.com

Atul Khatri: Stand-Up Comedy

Fri 1 Nov (7.00pm onwards) The Comedy Store, 122 Lang Road, Sydney. Details Premier Tickets.

Saaz Band for Saaya Fundraiser

Sat 2 Nov (6.00pm - 8.30pm)

Charity organisation Saaya Touching Lives and Australian Telangana State Association Sydney present a night of Bollywood music with Saaz Band, at Pacific Hills Christian School, 9 – 13 Quarry Rd, Dural. Details www.saaya.org.au

CLUB / ENTERTAINMENT

Diwali Rooftop Party - Bhangra and Bollywood

Sat 19 Oct (9:00pm onwards) Home

The Venue, 1-5 Wheat Road, #101, Darling Harbour. Details 02 9266 0600

Blockbuster Diwali Cruise

Fri 25 Oct (9:00 pm onwards) King Street Wharf 9, Harbour Street, Sydney. Tickets bollywoodclubx.com

Diwali Dhamaka

Sat 2 Nov (2.00pm - 6.00pm)

Featuring Ramdas Padhye (puppetr show) and Shabdanche Café (song and poetry). Venue: Sydney Baha’i Centre, 107 Derby St, Silverwater. Details Premier Tickets.

Kareena Kapoor

Sat 2 Nov (7.00pm - 11.00pm) Catch

Kareena Kapoor at The Diamond Showroom, Blacktown Workers Club, 55 Campbell St, Blacktown. Details www.drytickets.com.au

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 (8.30am9.15am) 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

Seniors

AASHA Regular meetings and catch-ups for seniors across Sydney. Programs feature yoga, music, dance, games, health and tech presentations, health checks and light lunch. Details 0412 786 569

Crows Nest: Bollywood morning tea for seniors.

Third Wednesday of the month (10.00am - 12.00 noon)

2 Ernest Place Crows Nest, Hornsby: Stay Well Live Well seniors group Second and fourth Fridays of the month (11.00am - 2.00pm)

Hornsby Youth and Community Centre, Corner of Muriel and Burdett Streets.

Blacktown: Stay Well Live Well seniors group

First Wednesday of the month (11.00am - 2.00pm)

Blacktown WestPoint Shopping Centre, Level 4, Opposite gym, Community Room

Wentworthville: Stay Well Live Well seniors group Fourth Saturday of the month (12.00 noon - 4.00pm)

Wentworthville Community Centre, 2 Lane St, Wentworthville.

Spiritual

550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev: Divine Steps Festival Sun 10 Nov (10.00am - 4.00pm) Sikh Youth Australia together with Sikh Sangat and Sikh organisations of Sydney, present the Divine Steps Festival, an event celebrating Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 550th Birth Anniversary and his universal message.

The Divine Steps Festival looks to share and celebrate the essence of Guru Nanak Dev Ji by bringing together Sikhs and other faith groups in a spiritual festival honouring his life and Universal message.

The Festival will feature:

• Divine Music Concert of spiritual music and performances from Sikh (Dya Singh World Music group) and other faith traditions.

• Langar (free vegetarian food and drinks)

• A showcase of the history of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the Sikh faith

• Free health checks (courtesy of Culture Care)

• Jumping castle and entertainment for the whole family

• Fundraising for selected charities –raffles, silent auction

• Sponsored charity udahasi walks Details 0401 055 271 or Facebook/DivineStepsFestival