The Hobart Sri Lankan Community had Deepavali celebrations which was also commemorated with a wide variety of popular entertainment, on the 10^th of November at the Hobart community center situated at Lenah Valley, the beautiful suburb in the foothills of Mount Wellington. Deepavali was celebrated by the Tamil communities of Sri Lanka, Malaysia and India, together with a large number of our Sinhalese friends and their families participating.

The program was sponsored by Rohan Wirasingha (Friends of Sri Lanka Society) and T. Sivarajah (Tamil Association of Hobart).

The Bharata Natyam recital by  Sri Ram a Tasmanian University student was a big hit and the traditional dance was performed with grace and poise by this young dancer who was trained in Hobart.

There was a segment of Indian popular and Tamil light classical music provided by the young students Ashani Gunaseelan, Gopika and Devika Ramesh. The high quality of entertainment was appreciated by the guests and long and loud applause followed the act.

The highlight of the evening was the ever fresh Sri Lankan Baila. This segment was immensely popular with the young and the not so young. And the guests demanded more and more. The band, "Serendib" flew in from Sydney with Bonny on the vocals. This was the first live exposure to Baila and its unique style in Hobart. It was a novel experience for the non Sri Lankan guests who thoroughly liked the Bonhomie and informal atmosphere of the Baila.

The guests especially enjoyed the performances by Padmini Sivarajah and Meera Parameswaran who are both professional classical carnatic singers on their own right.

The songs were well received and the dancing went on for a long time, well into very late at night. The two Masters of Ceremony were Harry Gunaseelan and Gopika Ramesh.

Diwali - which leads into Truth and Light is celebrated on a wide scale on Amavasya - the 15th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin (Aasho) (October / November) every year. It symbolises that age-old culture of the Hindu religion which teaches how to vanquish ignorance that subdues humanity and to drive away darkness that engulfs the light of knowledge.

Diwali, the festival of lights, even to-day in this modern world, projects the traditions of the Hindu religion and teaches the faithful to uphold true values of life.

The word "Diwali" is the corruption of the Sanskrit word "Deepavali" - Deepa meaning light and Avali, meaning a row.

It means a row of lights and indeed illumination forms the main attraction of this festival. Every Hindu home - be it the hut of the poor or the mansion of the rich - is alit with the orange glow of twinkling diyas, small earthen lamps - to welcome Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity.

Multi-coloured Rangoli designs, floral decorations and fireworks lend a quaint grandeur to this festival which heralds joy, mirth and happiness in the ensuring year.

We bring you a small selection of photos from the event in Hobart - click here to view