A celebration of light overcoming the dark, of good triumphing over evil, is heading to Australian Parliament House on Monday 7 November. Deepavali, or Diwali as it is commonly known, is the Indian festival of lights, and the Hindu Council of Australia (HCA) is celebrating at the home of Australian politics.
HCA is a community organisation that encompasses more than 55 Hindu temples and member groups across Australia. The Council has been celebrating Diwali at Parliament House since 2004, except for the last two years due to the pandemic. The dates for Diwali are based on the position on the moon; this year, the five-day festival starts on 24 October, however, the HCA is celebrating a bit later.
“We try to have it when both Houses are in sitting so that a maximum number of senators can attend,” says Santosh Gupta, Chair of the Canberra HCA. “The purpose is to celebrate with our top lawmakers, so we can all celebrate at the same time.”
One of the biggest festivals on the Hindu calendar, Gupta says Diwali is a chance for communities from India to share their rich culture and celebrate with friends old and new. The Parliament House events will be held in two parts: from 11.45am in the Great Hall there will be an Exhibition of Culture and Festivals, as well as a lunch, which is by invitation only.
Then in the evening, tickets can be bought to attend a function of cultural performances and addresses from political and community leaders. This event includes a light vegetarian dinner pack showcasing Indian delicacies.
Deepavali comes from Sanskrit and is translated as ‘row of lights’. In olden days, Gupta says, lamps made from clay, oil, and cotton wicks were used to light the streets in celebration as Prince Rama returned to his kingdom after being an outcast for many years. The story encourages the listener to embrace the light to overcome darkness or negativity, as Prince Rama overcame the evil King Ravana to rescue his wife and return to his home.
“Lord Rama returned from exile after 14 years after defeating the demon king. It’s a new moon day, it’s all dark everywhere, so people in Ayodhya hold up lamps. That’s how they lit up all of Ayodhya, that’s how It became significant,” he says.
To join the Diwali celebrations at Australian Parliament House on 7 November 5.45pm, visit hinducouncil.com.au
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