Diwali festival to light up Cairns with fireworks, food and entertainment

The Festival of Lights will illuminate Cairns this weekend, with the Hindu community inviting everyone to join their “massive celebration” complete with food stalls, fashion shows and a spectacular fireworks display. Details:

The Cairns Hindu Samaj is hosting Diwali Mela, the festival of lights at Fogarty Park on Saturday, celebrating the triumph of good over evil. Cairns Hindu Sumaj members Soniya Aleti, Rimple Dhillon, Chaitali Nayak and Nirmala Madam get ready to celebrate Diwali with cultural performances, live music, Indian food and a spectacular fireworks finale at Fogarty Park on Saturday. Picture: Brendan Radke

Diwali Mela will illuminate Cairns this weekend, with the Hindu community inviting everyone to join their “massive celebration” complete with food stalls, fashion shows and a spectacular fireworks display.

The Cairns Hindu Samaj is hosting Diwali Mela 2025 on Saturday at Fogarty Park.Also known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is a major Hindu festival which celebrates the triumph of good over evil, or light over darkness.

CHS treasurer Chaitali Nayak said the Cairns festival would be a “massive celebration” expected to attract between 3,000 and 5,000 people.

“We’ll have Indian food trucks, dance troupes, a fashion show, a DJ playing Bollywood music, cultural programs and carnival games and rides for kids,” Ms Nayak said.

“And of course we will have lots of lights – lanterns, lights in the trees, and a 15 minute fireworks display on the Esplanade at 9pm.”

Market stalls will sell Indian jewellery and clothing and offer Henna tattoos, and screenings of Ramayana will be played throughout the day too, followed by a live stage play of the story called Ramleela.

Ms Nayak said the CHS wanted all of Cairns to feel welcome at Diwali.
“We want everyone to be involved – the festival is not just limited to our Indian or Hindu community,” she said.

“We are holding a big celebration to spread the message and share the love with the larger Cairns community, and we hope it brings us all together.”

Diwali Mela runs from 11am to 9pm on Saturday, October 18.

Entry is $10 for adults, $5 for kids, will children under 5 free.

For more information, go to the Cairns Hindu Samaj’s website.

Originally published as Diwali festival to light up Cairns with fireworks, food and entertainment