Source: South Asian Focus
http://www.southasianfocus.ca/community/article/58930
The Indian diaspora worldwide were in celebratory mood for Diwali.
The mood was no different in Australia. Thousands of people, including many members of the Indian diaspora, gathered in Sydney and Melbourne over the weekend to usher in Diwali festivities that coincided with the flowering of jacarandas and ripening of mangoes in Australia.
While over 20,000 people celebrated Diwali at Olympic Park in Sydney's Homebush suburb, festivities at Federation Square in the heart of Melbourne's Central Business District drew a staggering 50,000.
Diwali has perhaps become the biggest festival in the Australian cultural calendar as people of Indian origin cross the 200,000 mark and Hinduism becomes one of the fastest growing religions in this multicultural country.
Organised by the Hindu Council of Australia in Sydney and Celebrate India Inc. in Melbourne, the festival in recent years has been attracting almost 50 per cent mainstream Australians.
"Our thrust is to popularize Diwali as the main festival of the Hindu community," said A. Balasubramaniam, chairperson of the Council.