Thursday, 31 October 2024

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (10:19): I would also like to take time today to give a shout-out to all the Indian communities in the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region who are and have been celebrating Diwali, including in areas of Berwick, Narre Warren, Narre Warren South and North, Cranbourne North, East and West, Carrum, Lynbrook, Lyndhurst, Dandenong, Clayton, Noble Park, Frankston, Mulgrave, Clyde, Clyde North, Rowville and the like. This year Diwali falls on 1 November, and it is now a global event. It has been celebrated in my area. The festival is a symbol of the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance, and it is the single most important and unifying festival for all Indian communities irrespective of their caste, creed, religion and faith. It has been an honour to be invited to local Diwali festivals as a chief guest and also on behalf of our leader John Pesutto, and I am thankful for the invitations to the Bright Events 2024 Diwali festival, where they had amazing fireworks, a carnival and stalls and allowed people to perform on the stage as well. Also, the kids Diwali celebration – (Time expired)