Grievance Debate

Diwali Festival

Mr BATTY (Bragg) (15:11): With Diwali celebrations already underway right across the world, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the thriving Indian community in my own electorate and to wish all of those right across South Australia who are celebrating Diwali, or Deepavali, a very happy Festival of Lights. However you are celebrating, may light shine over darkness, may good triumph over evil, and may knowledge trump ignorance.

Diwali is an enormously important festival in the Hindu spiritual calendar. It is also a festival that is more broadly celebrated by Sikhs and Christians and also as a non-religious event across South Asia, celebrating the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and hope over despair.

The festival lasts for five days, and while observances of Diwali differ, depending on region and depending on tradition, what remains consistent is a celebration of life, its enjoyment and a sense of goodness. Throughout the festival, we will see homes, temples and workplaces decorated with candles that will drive away the darkness. We will see diyas lit and we will see homes decorated with rangoli as well.

Diwali is the most anticipated festival on the Indian calendar, but is of course celebrated by many communities right across the world, including here in South Australia, not only by our Indian community but also, for example, by our Nepalese and Bhutanese communities, as well as some Malayan and Bangladeshi.

We are so lucky in South Australia to have such rich and diverse multicultural communities. Over 600,000 Australians, 40,000 South Australians and more than 1,500 of my own constituents have Indian ancestry, and the Indian community is one of the fastest-growing, not only in South Australia but also in my own electorate.

It has been a genuine pleasure to be able to engage with the Indian community in so many different ways over the last year as the member for Bragg, whether it be with the Sikh Society of South Australia located in Glen Osmond in my electorate; whether it be attending events by Shruthi Adelaide at Marryatville High School, which showcases Indian classical art forms in many different varieties; or whether it be the opening of the best Indian restaurant in Adelaide—which also happens to be in my own electorate—Laxmi's Tandoori Indian Restaurant at 295 Glen Osmond Road in Glenunga. A big shout-out to Aakash Kalia who has taken out the award for the best Indian restaurant in the state once again this year.

It is a culture that is rich, that is colourful, that is spiritual and that is so welcoming. I look forward to being welcomed once again by the Indian community as they celebrate Diwali in South Australia. Already, we have seen celebrations right across the state, including some here at Parliament House, but there will be many more public and private celebrations over the coming few weeks. I want to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in organising those many events, but, more importantly, I wish all those attending a very happy time.

I am really proud of our multicultural society here in South Australia. For many decades now, we have been so enriched by immigration from all corners of the world and I think we are all better for it. Different people's cultures, their food, their lived experiences, all add to this great state. In my maiden speech a year ago, I said a priority of mine was creating a culture of acceptance and inclusivity in our community amongst our new migrant communities. As recently as last weekend was an example of us trying to do just that, where the Leader of the Opposition hosted a luncheon in Findon along with the shadow minister for multicultural affairs that I was really pleased to attend.

Over 200 attended that event, including community leaders from right across different multicultural communities. It was a very happy occasion. It was an opportunity for me to talk to many Indian community leaders about what Diwali means to them and how they plan to celebrate. While it means different things to different people, for all it meant a celebration of life and its goodness, for all it meant a time to share their beliefs and their culture with us. For all celebrating, I wish you a very happy Diwali.