Parramatta Council approves only one Diwali festival for Little India Harris Park
A second Diwali festival in western Sydney’s Little India has been rejected after a council refused to ‘buy into the politics’ of rival groups in the neighbourhood.
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Bring on Diwali, but one event in two weeks is enough for the Sydney neighbourhood known as Little India.
At a Parramatta Council meeting this week, a suggestion to host a Diwali event in the heart of Little India at Wigram St on October 13, a week before an already-approved festival, was rejected.
Councillor Patricia Prociv called for the Little India Australia’s celebration to be held on October 13, a week ahead of the celebration for their rival group – the Little India Harris Park Business Association – on October 20.
But the motion was lost.
Councillor Lorraine Wearne slammed the idea of having two Diwali events in the same location a week apart, and called for the two groups to resolve their differences.
“I am not going to buy into the politics of the Indian community,’’ she said at the council meeting.
“I’m very concerned that we appear to be making decisions based on politics of particular groups within the community. That really bothers me. Why are we making a decision based on two different factions within the Indian community?’’
Cr Wearne said no concessions would be made for other community groups.
“We wouldn’t do it for Australia Day,’’ she said.
“I can’t help but think this is a ridiculous discussion.’’
Little India Australia hosted Diwali at Harris Park in November and the event attracted about 15,000 visitors.
Cr Wearne feared a second festival would attract “twice as much rubbish”.
Cr Prociv said businesses and residents had agreed on a second Diwali festival on October 13 and Little India Australia members had applied “well in advance” to host the event.
However, the LIHPBA secured council approval earlier in February, and traffic limitations also restricted a second festival.
Cr Prociv said there were no council guidelines on how many festivals could be permitted in residential areas.
“It’s a watershed moment in Harris Park because the residents and the businesses, as a result of this, have started to sit down and talk to each other,’’ she said.
“It’s been a real stalemate there for a long time and this is really important.’’
She suggested having two festivals this year but returning to one event in 2025.
Only the event on October 20 will proceed.
Little India Australia can apply to host a festival at “a later date” if an application is submitted three months before the event.
The neighbourhood has been in the spotlight over a row over mobile food vendors flouting rules that restrict them from trading after 7pm.
Frustrated residents argue their customers create noise, rubbish and flout rules because Wigram St is zoned as residential.
Last month, the council agreed to ask the state government to change legislation that would allow the businesses to operate until 10pm in Wigram St, along with Marion St and Station St East.
It is still waiting for a response.
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Originally published as Parramatta Council approves only one Diwali festival for Little India Harris Park
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