Let the parties begin O

ver the next few months, the Indian community in Sydney is going to be treated to an extravaganza of festivities.

Usually, the ‘party’ season for us as a community comes later in the year around Diwali. This year, however, it will hit us much earlier. And it’s just as well – the woes for the community from last year continued into the new year, and we need to cheer ourselves up.

March is shaping up to be an exciting month. Those totally in awe of Bollywood will be rapt in the presence of Bollywood’s A-lister Rani Mukherjee who jets in to Sydney and Melbourne to launch the Indian Film Festival. The Festival will showcase contemporary Bollywood and regional language movies. Rani herself will be accompanied by actor/ director Sohail Khan, Raj Kumar Hirani (of 3 Idiots fame) and Imtiaz Ali (Love Aaj Kal).

As well next month, we’ll welcome two terrific Indian performances. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, with his entertaining fusion of Sufi and Bollywood music, promises to be a spectacular concert. If you prefer something more classical, can’t go past Ravi Shankar. In what is hailed as the last tour by this musical genius, the Opera House will see him play alongside his daughter Anoushka.

March also brings with it the annual

By PAWAN LUTHRA

Holi Mela at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour. Easily one of the best organised and presented fairs in our community, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s colourful showpiece attracts the local Indians, Australians as well as hundreds of tourists in Australia at the time. Free entry but a priceless day of fun in mid-March. For those out West, Holi through Indian Arts and Cultural organisation will also be celebrated at Fairfield Showgrounds. .

For Bollywood fans and dance enthusiasts, The Merchants of Bollywood comes round again at the majestic State Theatre to entertain us all. A simple story wrapped up in music and dance with great costumes, it is a wonderful evening out and guaranteed to have you dancing in your seats.

To all these, why not grab an Aussie friend and take them with you? The colours of Holi, the music of Khan, the Shankars’ sitar, or the joi de vivre of Bollywood, can perhaps help the negative headlines of the past year behind us, and allow the healing to begin.

In April, the Queen’s baton for the Commonwealth Games finds its way to

Sydney. Be ready for a barrage of photos and athletes welcoming the torch. While the list of the baton carriers is still not known, local Australian cricketers and Indian community members are surely limbering up. The Waughs and Lees will be professing their love for all things Indian. For those who love their reading, expect to see major Indian writers grace this year’s Sydney Writer’s Festival.

The cup, as they say, runneth overthere are plenty of occasions coming up for us to move forward and enjoy the lifestyle and opportunities which living in Australia offers us.

Beauty Therapy and Nail Centre

Esablished 20 years back in Hurstville

Now open in Paramatta on level 1 near station and food court

OPEN SPECIALS:

* $55 MEDICAL GRADE LASER (5MINS) example lip, bikini and underarm or face or brazillian

* Brazillian and underarm $70

WAXING:

* Full leg and Brazillian $45

* Eyebrows $10

* Bikini $10

*Face $20

* Full leg and bikini line $31

FACIAL:

* Mini facial includes massage, removal of black heads and mask $35

Phone 9633 3822

Shop 1169, Level 1 Westfield Paramatta NSW 2150 Also in Westfield Bondi Junction, Hurstville, Miranda & Eastgardens

Havan

21 Feb H.H. Sri Om Gnana Sakthiyendra Swamiji will preside over Homam (Havan) at Sri Om Adi Sakthi Ashram, 62 Kurrajong Crescent, Blacktown, 10 am to 12.30 pm. Details Chandra (02) 9920 0536

Bollywood Extravaganza charity event

27 Feb Bollywood Dhamaka presents a night of live entertainment (including Saaz live band, singing, dinner and live entertainment) at Bowman Hall, Campbell St, Blacktown NSW. All proceeds go to Australian Hindu Multicultural Association inc. and Sanatan Cultural Centre Trust. Details Suresh Gowda: 0401 432 282

Global Organisation for Divinity (GOD)

Prayer sessions and Gopakuteeram classes start on Sunday 21 February between 4pm and 6pm, at Parramatta Scout Hall, Webb Street, North Parramatta. Details email contact@godivinity.org.au

Spiritual discourse by Shri Vibhuji

Mananv Dharam Society of Australia presents a spiritual discourse by humanist and social philosopher Shri Vibhuji

5 Mar at AHECS (Hindu Village), 410 Clifton Ave, Kemps Creek NSW, 7.00-9.00pm

6 Mar at Villawood Senior Citizens Hall, Villawood Rd, Villawood NSW, 6.30-9.30pm.

Details Sanjeet 0432 682 275.

Mother India reinvented

7 Mar The Sydney Opera House will screen a distilled version of the classic Bollywood film Mother India complete with a modern electronic score. Mother India: 21st Century Remix (MI21) had a hugely successful sell out UK tour last year. A stunning adaptation of the 1957 Oscar-nominated film, MI21 remixes, re-edits and rescores the original 3-hour epic into a 45-minute silent film. British turntablist DJ Tigerstyle has composed a contemporary electronic and strings based score to convey the myriad of actions and emotions expressed on-screen. Tigerstyle will be joined on stage by Matt Constantine on the keyboards and electric cello and David Shaw on the drums, with Josh Ford as MI21’s visual editor.

Details, www.sydneyoperahouse.com/screenlive

Upanishads short course

Starting March SVT Vidyalaya presents Upanishatsarasangraha a rare and free opportunity to learn the essence of all Upanishads. Sri Vasudevacharya, Senior Disciple of Swami Dayananda Saraswathi will teach the course. In eighteen classes, he will systematically explain the meaning of the most outstanding mantras from all the principal Upanishads. This is a unique course that will prove of great benefit to spiritual seekers. All are welcome. No prior knowledge necessary.

WHERE: Darcy Road Public School Hall, Wentworthville

Details Kumar 0407 108 372 or Shobana 0422 732 907

UIA’s Women’s and Seniors Forums

6 Mar Women’s Forum 9.30am. 20 Mar Seniors Forum

Both events will be held at Parravilla Function Centre, Campbell St Parramatta, starting 9.30am. Working lunch will be provided on both days. Details Aruna Chandrala 0410 338 900 or visit the website www.uia.org.au

Chinmaya Mission events

5 Mar - 7 Mar Opening the Heart (Ladies Retreat) with Swamini Amritananda and Brni Sujata Chaitanya, at Satyananda Yoga, 300 Mangrove Creek Road, Mangrove Creek, NSW Australia 2250.

7 Mar Holi celebrations (Seeing one-ness) organised by the Chinmaya Yuvekendra (Senior, Junior) and Balavihar Castle Hill, 10.00am to midday, at Chinmaya Sannidhi, 38 Carrington Road, Castle Hill.

Veda & Stotram Chanting Classes for Beginners Friday evenings (starting 12 March) with Brni Sujata Chaitanya and Saturday mornings (starting 13 March) with Br Gopal Chaitanya.

Sanskrit for Beginners (10 classes)

Tuesdays at Chinmaya Sannidhi Ashram

Bhagavad Geeta classes

Monday nights at Chinmaya Sannidhi Ashram

Vivekachoodamani classes

Wednesday nights at Pymble and Thursday nights at Chinmaya Sannidhi Ashram

Details contact Chinmaya Sannidhi 02 8850 7400. Purandaradasa singing competition

3 and 4 Mar To participate in the Sri Purandaradasa Aradhana singing competition, call Anu Ananda 02 9764 4587 or email purandarasydney@yahoo.com.au

Kathakali

11 Mar Spirit of India presents Kathakali dance drama The Killing of Dushasana performed by the world-renowned Kerala Kalamandalam Dance Company. Seymour Centre, 7pm. Booking www.seymourcentre.com.au or phone 02 9352 7940.

Vision 2020 fund-raiser

13 Mar Vision2020 Incorporated (a charitable organisation in Sydney) is organising a Gana Mela Evening, a film music program including songs in several Indian languages Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam. Talented singers from the Sound of Music Orchestra will entertain the audience at Castle Hill High School, 76-100 Castle Street, Castle Hill, NSW, starting 6.30pm. All proceeds go to carefully selected and genuine charity projects in developing countries.

Details: Nagarajan 02 9498 2260 or Ravi 94774164

Sri Seetha Rama Kalyanam

27 Mar JET Australia Sydney organises the traditional Seetha Ramam Kalyanam at Tuggerah Community Hall, Anzac Road, Tuggerah. Details contact Veena or Ramakanth on 0404 029 520