Benalla Art Gallery lit up for Benalla’s Diwali celebrations in 2023
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
Diwali is a festival that is celebrated by many cultures across South Asia.
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It is known as the ‘festival of lights’ and it symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness.
It is believed that celebrating Diwali will bring prosperity in the family.
It is a time that people in South Asian communities can come together, celebrate, and enjoy food and fun.
On Monday, 4 November, the Benalla community is warmly invited to join in the vibrant Diwali celebrations.
This creative event showcases skilled artisans crafting diya (traditional oil lamps) and invites attendees to participate in folk art activities. One such activity is the creation of decorative rangoli, intricate patterns made during the celebration.
Benalla’s 2023 Diwali celebrations were well attended.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
Traditionally, rangoli are created using natural items such as coloured rice, scraped coconut, flower petals, and rice powder.
After the celebration ends, rangoli will be left for few days so birds and ants can enjoy the tasty decorations.
Benalla Migrants Association’s President Puna Hewa Gunaratne said Diwali at the Mural in Benalla is shaping up to embrace these traditions in the heart of Benalla.
“This is an amazing event that our volunteers have put together over many months.” Cr Gunaratne said.
“We put forward an excellent proposal, one of the few proposals that were fully funded from the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s grant pool that.
“I am very proud to head up a community that works together to share festivals like in Benalla, and we invite the whole Benalla community to join us and have fun.
“(We) look forward to seeing locally made diya and beautiful rangoli.”
Building on last year's success, children and grandchildren can enjoy a range of free activities, including jumping castles and face painting.
Lots of Benalla kids have participated in Benalla Migrants Association’s community art projects that were held over the school holidays with its Diwali at the Mural artist ‘Akhila’, as well as colouring in activity.
Participants can look forward to seeing their art and creations projected onto the walls around the ceramic mural at the festival.
Visitors of all ages can immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere with complimentary henna art, traditional music and dance performances, authentic Indian sweets, and a variety of activities throughout the evening.
There will be food trucks to purchase a variety of food and drinks.
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