Whether you’re an Indophile or not, you’ll find something of interest in this list of events from the Indian community’s annual social calendar. Come join us as smear coloured powder on each other, or light a lamp to mark our new year and try out your light-bulb moves on the dance floor.
Weekend of Carnatic Music
Queen’s Birthday weekend, June The best-known names in the thriving classical music circuit in southern India travel to Sydney in June each year to entertain local fans. Organised by the Swaralaya Fine Arts Society, the 3-day event features vocal as well instrumental presentations.
Sydney Sakhi Sangam
June, 22 June 11am
Some 900 women, dressed to the nines, kick up their beautiful heels at this annual women-only event. Organised by socialites Nandini Thadani and Sushma Ahluwalia, Sakhi Sangam (Hindi for ‘Girlfriends Gather’), is a ‘must-do-at-least-once’ kind of event, if you’re a woman in Sydney’s Indian community! Today it attracts women of all backgrounds who beg, borrow or buy those OTT Indian outfits and accessories for this day-long do.
Australia India Friendship Fair
Date TBA
Held annually in August to mark India’s Independence Day, this day-long fair at the Sydney Olympic Park features cultural performances and multiple food stalls. Organised by United Indian Associations (Inc.), the event also attracts many federal and state level politicians who come out to greet the Indian community.
Deepavali Fair
Date TBA
Another annual event that sees the gathering of ‘the clan’, this day-long event marks the festival of Deepavali or Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights. Organised by the Hindu Council of Australia in Oct-Nov, the event features cultural performances, food stalls and a fireworks display at dusk. Diwali is also celebrated at Martin Place in the CBD, and the exterior of the NSW Parliament House is decorated in lights to mark Hinduism’s most significant festival.
Check out our calendar of all events in Sydney here
