Diwali
Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (09:58): The South-Eastern Metropolitan Region is home to growing and vibrant Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities. Across my region and across Victoria these communities celebrated the joyous festival of Diwali. Diwali has fast become a fixture in the calendar of so many Victorians, like me, who look forward to it every year. So it was a privilege to join the Premier, many parliamentary colleagues and numerous community leaders to celebrate this festival of lights. The Premier’s Diwali gala was an unprecedented success. The gala was a fantastic celebration of the Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities and the diversity, culture and strength that they bring to Victoria. I would like to also acknowledge a special thanks to my guests who did me the honour of joining me at the celebration: Pandeep Rajesh Chowdary, Jiwan Pandey, Jagdeep Singh Sukijah, Simar Bedi and Sathien Sachithananatham. I want to offer my warm wishes to everyone in the south-east who celebrated Diwali last week.