New South Wales parliament, Australia's oldest, celebrates Kerala festival Onam

The parliament of New South Wales, Australia, had for the first time hosted Onam celebrations, a Hindu harvest festival from the southern Indian state of Kerala, The Australia Today reported.

An event was organised on the occasion by the World Malayalee Council, Sydney. Onam is celebrated for around 10 days around August-September every year both in India and among Indians living abroad. It is symbolic of the legendary king Mahabali's annual homecoming. This year, Onam was celebrated between August 30 and September 8.

According to the report, the Onam celebrations at the New South Wales parliament saw the presence of the speaker Jonathan Richard O’Dea; New South Wales corrections minister Dr Geoffrey Lee; chief Liberal Party whip in New South Wales Legislative Council Scott Farlow; shadow minister for sport and youth, Julia Finn, who also hosted the celebrations; and Indian consul general in Sydney, Manish Gupta.

Finn, who wore an Indian 'saari' for the occasion, said it was great to be able to celebrate ancient festivals such as Onam at the New South Wales parliament.

Jodi McKay, Australia India Business Council (AIBC) chair and former leader of the opposition in the New South Wales parliament who is also known for her collection of 'saaris', was also elated over the Onam celebrations, the report added.

Counsel general Gupta said that Onam being celebrated in the parliament of New South Wales, the oldest in Australia, spoke volumes about the values that multicultural Australia holds.

Fijian-Indian origin deputy mayor of Ku-ring-gai Council, Barbara Ward, along with Indian-origin Councillors in various Sydney councils -- Charishma Kaliyanda, Reena Jethi, and Sreeni Pillamarri also attended the event.

Irfan Malik, vice president of the World Malayalee Council, Sydney, told The Australia Today that the celebrations symbolised the Indian ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam -- the world is one family.