Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Contest Shines Light Of Diversity

MEDIA RELEASE 25 October 2017 The Singh family from Blacktown has been announced the winner of Australia’s first Diwali Festival of Lights Competition. The competition was organised by Blacktown City Council in association with Indian Link Media Group to celebrate the annual Diwali Festival, held across the world on 19 October this year.  Ajinesh Singh said his family has been decorating their home for Diwali for the past 11 years, but it was wonderful to be publicly and officially recognised by Council. “Council should be proud and I think it is a great idea that they have done this because we are a very multicultural community” he said. “The Indian community is growing and it’s good to see another culture being celebrated and recognised.” Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali said Blacktown is one of the most culturally diverse cities in Australia, being home to 28,000 people of Indian descent. “It is only fitting that we should host Australia’s first Diwali light up your homes competition, fusing an Australian and Indian tradition into a mutual celebration of light and life,” he said. “Seeing we are the only Diwali Festival of Lights Competition in Australia, we can truly call the winner the inaugural national champion – yet another first for Blacktown’s thriving and vibrant Indian community. “I thank everyone who took part and look forward to a bigger and brighter event next year." Competition judge Councillor Moninder Singh said he was impressed with the quality of entrants. “It’s not just the lights that were impressive, but the team work and the meaningful traditions behind the light displays,” Cr Singh said. “This festival is sacred to the Indian community – it’s as big as Christmas – so for Council to hold a competition to recognise the Diwali Festival means a great deal.” 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. Blacktown City Diwali Festival of Lights Competition winners: Name Address Rating Ajinesh Singh 8 Farmingdale Dr, Blacktown 1st Place and Overall City Winner Vishal Sadhu 72 Steeltrap Dr, Bungarribee 2nd Place Salina Saluja 21 Brune St, Doonside 3rd Place Sunaina Upadhyay 106 Mosaic Ave, The Ponds 4th Place Jitendra Singh 101 James Cook Dr, Kings Langley 5th Place Ajinesh Singh with his wife Shynia and daughter Tanya are the winners of the inaugural Blacktown Festival of Lights Competition. Tanya Singh with her parents Ajinesh and Shynia at the front of their award winning home.