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“Deepavali message is timeless,” says Governor-General David Hurley

His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley host a morning tea for Deepavali. (Governor-General of Australia Facebook)

The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley recently hosted a morning tea for Diwali celebrations at Government House in Canberra.

The celebrations were organised by the Hindu Council of Australia which completed 25 years this year.

His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley host a morning tea for Deepavali. L to R first row National Secretary HCA Sai Paravastu (2nd from left), President HCA Prakash Mehta (3rd from left), Governor General David Hurely, Linda Hurley, Naseem Vohra (4th from right), Indian High Commissioner Manpreet Vohra, Vice President HCA Surinder Jain (3rd from right), Vice President HCA Kanti Jinna (extreme right), Fijian High Commissioner Ajay Bhai Amrit in the centre secong row. ACT Chair HCA Santosh Gupta second row left (Image: Governor-General of Australia Facebook)

The celebrations began with lighting of the lamp ceremony followed by chanting of Sanskrit Shlokas.

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Governor-General Hurley spoke about the contribution of the Indian diaspora in Australia and said that the message of Diwali is timeless.

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Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Manpreet Vohra, also spoke about the significance of Diwali and emphasised the achievements of the Indian diaspora in Australia at the celebrations.

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Fiji’s High Commissioner to Australia Ajay Bhai Amrit spoke about love, compassion and forgiveness.

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The programme was conducted by HCA Vice President Kanti Jinna. Faith leaders across religious communities also attended the event.

During the celebrations members of the Indian-Australian community presented Governor-General Hurley with a sculpture of ‘Nataraj’ (Hindu God Shiva as the Cosmic Dancer), a plaque with ‘Ṇamōkāra mantra’ (most important mantra in Jainism) written in gold and two books on Sikhism.

Former President of HCA and veteran community leader Nihal Agar and HCA ACT Chair Santosh Gupta present the ‘Nataraj’ to Governor General Hurley

Vice President HCA, Surinder Jain, gifting plaque with ‘Ṇamōkāra mantra’ to Governor General Hurley

Dr Sunita Dhindsa and Harjinder Singh Dhindsa present books on Sikhism to Governor General Hurley

The celebrations also included a dance by Dr Tanima Banerjee on the significance of the Sanskrit Shloka ‘Asato Ma Sadgamaya’

However, in a remarkable gesture, Mrs Hurley won everyone’s hearts by singing a special song for Diwali.

This year Diwali falls on the 12th of November but the festive spirit is already in the air.

L to R (Sai Paravastu, National Secretary HCA, Prakash Mehta President HCA, Governor General David Hurley, Mrs Linda Hurley, Kanti Jinna Vice President HCA, Santosh Gupta ACT Chair HCA)

Mrs Hurley then donned a Saree that was gifted to her by members of the community during the celebrations.

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