This was published 3 months ago
Brisbane’s ‘biggest year yet’ for the Hindu festival of lights
When Ash Raina moved to Sherwood in Brisbane’s south 13 years ago, he did not expect the city would one day embrace the biggest cultural event on the Hindu calendar.
Earlier this month, the Oxley Bowls Club became an explosion of flowers, Bollywood music, bright colours and fireworks to celebrate the Hindu festival of lights, known as Diwali.
Raina said the Oxley event, on October 19, was their “largest festival yet”, with more than 1500 people in attendance, reflecting Brisbane’s growing Indian population.
“Going back 13 years when we moved to Brisbane, the number of [Diwali] festivals happening in Brisbane was just one – at King George Square,” Raina said.
“When we had our festival [in Oxley this year], there were five on that same day.”
Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists all take part in Diwali’s spiritual and cultural celebration of light over darkness, good over evil.
In Australia, more than a million people celebrate Diwali, or Deepavali. Around the world, more than a billion observe the festival of light. Its exact date varies each year depending on the position of the moon, but it usually falls between October and November. This year it coincides with Halloween.
“Diwali is our Christmas, basically, if you compare it in those terms,” Raina said.
The festival often sees families decorate the front of their houses with lights, candles and oil lamps called diyas. Hindus and Sikhs eat traditional sweets and worship Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth.
Raina’s family leaves their lights up through Christmas.
Census data shows that south-east Queensland’s Hindu population is concentrated in new housing developments in Brisbane’s outer south-west, with a growing number also in Ipswich.
Sixteen per cent of the population of Pallara, near Forest Lake, identifies as Hindu. In neighbouring Heathwood, nearly 15 per cent of residents are Hindu, while in Spring Mountain in Ipswich it is 14 per cent.
Neelima Kauschal-Chand, vice-president of the Hindu Society of Queensland, said it was exciting to see her community growing and a greater recognition of the Diwali festival.
“When I first came to Brisbane [25 years ago], people didn’t even know what Diwali was, so the awareness is the biggest achievement. People look forward to the colour, the food, the music, the dancing, the clothes,” she said.
Diwali is now celebrated in schools, kindergartens, offices and parks across the city.
Kauschal-Chand said celebrating Diwali in Brisbane meant she was able to connect with people from across her home country. India is home to about 2000 ethnic groups, but here in Brisbane, she said, the community is united.
“We look for home, we search for home, and we don’t differentiate [between different cultural groups]. We have a common understanding, it brings us together,” Kauschal-Chand said.
“Our population is [becoming] integrated, and that comes with another generation of educated people … 25 years ago in Brisbane, it was a solo culture, families were living in isolation, which has changed.”
The significance of Diwali will be marked on November 1 when the Story Bridge, Victoria Bridge and Brisbane City Hall will be lit up in white, orange and green.
Brisbane City Council will host its annual Diwali festival in King George Square on Friday, November 1, from 11am to 11pm.
Other events will be held at Dreamworld on November 2 and Movie World on November 8.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said “one of the best parts about festivals like Diwali is that it unites people across cultures”.
“I encourage residents to get involved and enjoy the vibrant Diwali celebrations taking place across Brisbane.”
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.