Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Diwali Festival To Light Up Blacktown

MEDIA RELEASE

8 September, 2017

Blacktown City Council is staging Australia’s first Diwali Lights Competition this October.

The Council, in association with Indian Link Media Group, is holding the Diwali Lights Competition throughout the city.

“Blacktown is one of the most multicultural cities in Australia and I am proud of the many events we hold to celebrate our diversity,” Mayor of Blacktown City Stephen Bali said.

“Diwali is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in our city, which is home to about 28,000 people of Indian descent.

“For many years Council has held a successful Christmas lights competition.

“Now we want to hold a similar competition to celebrate the Diwali Festival of Lights.”

The ancient Hindu festival of Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, with observers around the world lighting lamps and candles in and around homes and temples.

Mayor Bali encouraged people of all backgrounds to get involved and decorate their properties.

“The competition is open to everyone, not just people of Indian heritage,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing all the beautifully decorated homes and temples that will come to light as a result of this contest.”

Cash prizes will be available for the best decorated properties across the city.

Judging criteria will be based on the Diwali themed quality of the lights, lamps and decorations people use to decorate the outside of their properties.

Entries open on 11 September and close on 13 October.

Judging will take place from 16 October to 22 October.

Diwali is officially celebrated on 19 October this year.

The largest celebration will be at Blacktown Showground on Sunday, October 1, with cultural dancing, henna art, live DJs, tug-of-war and fireworks.

Blacktown’s Karwa Chauth Mela, a one-day Hindu festival, will be celebrated the following Sunday at Bowman Hall.  

To enter the Diwali Lights Competition visit:

https://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Community/Awards-scholarships-and-competitions/Diwali-Lights-Competition