Diwali is a festival celebrated by all Indians in India as well as abroad. The colours, the lights, the music, the dance, the jewellery, clothes and other finery, the custom of giving away of gifts, sweets and other delicacies, the firecrackers and the general sense of wellbeing and rejoicing have attracted even non-Indians to participate in the celebrations. The joy of Diwali is infectious and people are spontaneously drawn by its spirit. Australia celebrates Diwali with great pomp and show. The celebrations attract not only Indians but also people of non-Indian origin. The fact that Diwali celebrations have lately been held in the Sydney Olympic Park and on the Flemington Racecourse, the venue for the Melbourne Cup, one of the world’s most famous horse races, show how well this festival has been accepted in Australia and how well Indian culture is woven into Australian culture.

This year in an expression of acceptance of Indian culture into the Australian cultural fold and in recognition of the contribution of the Indian people to the Australian society, the Parliament House of NSW will celebrate Deepavali. The exterior of the Parliament House of NSW will stay illuminated from October 17 to 30, 2009 for celebrating the Festival of Lights. The Deepavali Festival Committee of NSW has announced the theme for the celebration to be “Australia – An evolving multicultural nation.” The festival is also celebrated at different other locations of NSW. October 11, 2009 at Parramatta Stadium will be an eventful day full of various cultural activities, and the celebrations will come to a close with spectacular fireworks. The highlights of the events will be Indian food, Bollywood music and dances, henna tattoos, fireworks, etc. Surely there can be no better setting for the Festival of Lights than the Sydney Harbour, which is a vision of lights on any ordinary night with stars twinkling across a dark sky, city lights blinking around the harbour and a reflection of all of this on the shimmering waters!

The Sydney Harbour will also gear up to celebrate the Festival of Lights. In addition to the lunch cruises, and dinner cruises, Magistic Cruises, one of the prominent operators around the Sydney Harbour, also offers a Diwali Party Dinner Cruise. Highlights of the cruise party are Indian vegetarian buffet, Bollywood DJ and dancing, decorations and special lighting, the dress code being traditional Indian finery.