By Alesha Capone
About 120 students from the ABCD Bollywood Dance School will perform at the Wyndham Diwali festival this Saturday.
Thousands of people attend the event, which is organised by Wyndham Diwali Incorporated, every year.
Diwali is a Hindu festival which is traditionally celebrated in October to November and marks the beginning of the financial year in India.
Diwali is associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and is a time when people come together to celebrate good conquering evil and light conquering dark.
The Wyndham event, which attracts visitors from across the state, also aims to promote multiculturalism through dance, music and arts. ABCD dance instructors Shweta Pandya and Zankhna Bhat said their students’ Diwali showcase would include performers aged from three to 45 from suburbs including Tarneit, Point Cook, Wyndham Vale, Hoppers Crossing, Caroline Springs, Burnside, Melton and various Brimbank suburbs.
“Especially for Diwali, we have chosen a patriotic theme showing the different cultures of India and paying homage to the soldiers and community members who went to fight in wars,” Ms Bhat said.
The Wyndham Diwali festival will be held at Presidents Park, Heaths Road, Wyndham Vale from noon to 10pm, Saturday, November 3. Entry is free. Details: www.wyndhamdiwali.org.au
