Diwali or Deepavali is popularly known as the festival of lights. It symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. It is one of the major and popular festivals celebrated in all regions of India, the greater Indian subcontinent, and Indian ethnic communities all over the world.
Diwali brings the festivities from multiple community groups of many faiths – each having its own myth, from all over the world. It is the most appropriate and auspicious festival for integration and creating positive vibes with all Tasmanians. This event provides a rare opportunity for Indians and many diverse groups (and is proving to be a strong catalyst) to come together on a common platform thus promoting a cohesive social network and understanding.
The Diwali fair includes multicultural stage performances, dance, music, kids and youth activities, food stalls, art, cultural exhibitions, and an open dance floor. We share that spirit of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" which means the world is one family, through this festival.
DEEPAVALI TASMANIA Inc. (DT). is a non-profit organization formed for the purpose of development and managing the annual Diwali event in Hobart. It started with the support of Multicultural Council of Tasmania (MCOT) in 2016 with the support of a few Indian ethnic community associations originating from the Indian subcontinent and other parts of the world. Slowly community groups takes leadership for the event, and it changed names as “Diwali Working Group” and “Diwali Working Committee”. In 2019 the community leaders decided to register themselves as an association “Deepavali Tasmania Incorporated”. Deepavali Tasmania was registered as an incorporated association on 25th September 2019. The Deepavali Event organised by the group from the start are as given below:
Even though Deepavali Tasmania Started with the intension of conducting a multicultural Diwali Event, It has enlarged it’s scope to improve connectivity, leadership and self expression for migrant communities. The Objectives of the association can be identified from the following clauses of the Constitution (4.2 to 4.7) as reproduced below:
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4.2- Management of the Deepavali (or Diwali) Festival (aka Festival of Lights, occurring annually around October or November), as a multicultural event to celebrate the cultural diversity of the Indian Sub-Continent in an ambience and style of family entertainment for the enjoyment of all Tasmanians. The celebration includes cultural performances, culinary experiences and arts and crafts representing the greater Indo-ethnic cultural and community groups, in order to engage with each other and with other Tasmanians to contribute to a vibrant and welcoming Tasmania for all.
4.3- Strategic development of the content of the festival in depth and range to become progressively more creative, encouraging the youth of the communities to meaningful living. Additionally, there is a growing interest in Australia in Indo-ethnic cultures’ lifestyles, which are inherently eco-friendly, such as Indian Tattoo, dress, spices and herbs for wellness and for chronic ailments, cosmetics and body care, handicrafts, home aids and mind-body practices. Festival growth strategy would resonate with the larger audience and raise the profile of the event so that it evolves as an anticipated iconic festival in its own way.
4.4- Presentation of other events and programs - The dissemination of insights into the essence and meaning of the ancient Indo-cultural heritage of philosophy and way of life by inviting eminent scholars and practitioners to present programmes to create a wider understanding of the human values inherent in these traditions and how to practise so as to enhance an essentially healthy lifestyle with techniques such as meditation, breathing and other behavioural mind-body methods for a more sustainable and holistic way of life in harmony with nature. As one of the activities, Diwali dialogue shows (or talks or lectures) can be conducted during the season of the Festival. For example, possible topics with respect to heritage in the realm of human values may be ‘Let the whole world be happy’ (loka smastha sukhino bhavanthu), ‘Be Human’ (manur bhava), ‘The world is one family’ (vasudhaiva kudumbakom), ‘Harmony, Integrity and Honesty’ (ahimsa, satya & asteya), ‘Truth alone triumphs’ (Satyameva Jayate) etc.
4.5- The Deepavali Tasmania Association is being developed by members of diverse Indo-ethnic cultural community groups to come together on a common platform and draws its strength from these grassroots organizations in celebrating Diwali and to share underlying values, traditions and philosophies. These activities promote a closer social network and thereby build social cohesion through the atmosphere of festivity - a tradition the Association aims to rediscover in a new socio-cultural environment.
4.6- Such multi-community events will:
4.7- In planning and carrying out the Diwali events, the Association will include content and strategies consistent with the State Government’s and Local Governments’ policies on multiculturalism, social harmony and integration to create a vibrant, welcoming Tasmania for all migrants.
Every organisation which flourishes is based on certain values that the organisation holds. In 2020-21, after elaborate discussions and consultation, DT created a set of organisational values and spiritual heritage values for the organisation. The values are given below:
We as a group of volunteers appreciate the opportunity provided by working together through Deepavali Tasmania Inc to contribute to our communal well-being through these values They are:
𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲:we acknowledge that each person has different attributes and circumstances, and the concept of equity opens up an opportunity to all members to engage and to contribute to community activities according to capacity.
𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣:the action of working with someone or working together as a group improves the quality of outputs along with the fulfilment of working as a team for any community project.
𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙮:the interaction between members of multiple groups allows for humility, respect, connectivity and empowers us as individuals belonging to one human family.
𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥:There is leadership potential in every human being. Volunteering in a multi-community organisation allows new avenues of leadership and self-expression to open.
Ahimsa (Harmony), Satya (Integrity) and Asteya (Honesty) are the spiritual heritage values which we nourish as an organisation:
𝑨𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒔𝒂 (𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒚):Ahimsa means there is no intention to cause suffering to others. It is the inner willingness to be in harmony with people around.
𝙎𝙖𝙩𝙮𝙖 (𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮):Satya is the respect inherent in following the eternal laws of life, or to follow eternal laws which bring progress and prosperity for all. It is living with integrity with the laws of life.
𝑨𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒚𝒂 (𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒚): Asteya means non-stealing. The positive inner root within our heart is the sense of Honesty. Honest people do not steal. All of us want to live and work with honest people. It is an essential value for real progress and success in life.
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