Tuesday, 14 November 2023

 Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Minister for Planning, Minister for the Suburbs) (12:52): On Sunday night we celebrated Deepavali at the Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs. Also known as Diwali, this festival of lights is widely celebrated by Hindus, but of course it is celebrated all over the world, including by Sikhs, Buddhists and Muslims. Amidst the diversity of Diwali stories there is a unifying common theme. This is a celebration, a festival of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance, and this is timely particularly given the truly terrible conflict that is unfolding in the Middle East right now and the pain, anguish and grief this is causing for so many people across our communities in Victoria. All of us now more than ever must work together to make sure that what is good here in Victoria prevails, and that is goodness, that light – it is our diversity, in all its beauty and richness.

I wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to the Hindu Society of Victoria for their beautiful festival this past week and for their invaluable work going back 40 years in promoting community and cultural harmony, contributing so much to a strong, rich and successful multicultural Victoria. I want to make sure that the Hindu society feels supported so it can continue to serve and support its devotees and the wider Hindu community and continue to contribute to cultural harmony in Victoria. Thank you to HSV president Sabaratnam Kathirkhanthan, vice-presidents Thavarajah Sriharan and Sivakumar Gurusamy, secretary Ratnam Kandasamy and all of the HSV committee members and volunteers at the Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs.