Bringing with them new skills, traditions, cultures, and beliefs that are enriching our communities and adding to the fabric of our society. 

India is well known all over the world as a country of cultural and traditional festivals, this culture is made up of a diverse range of languages, religions, dance, music, food, and customs that differ from place to place within the country. 

In Launceston there are more than 200 families that make up the vibrant Indian community here, the Indian Multicultural Society embraces all cultures and ensures any chance for a celebration is not missed. 

With Diwali celebrations fast approaching Northern Exposure caught up with Alice Kaushal a member of the Indian Multicultural Society to learn more about Indian culture and the community within Launceston. 

“We have around 200 families in Launceston and surrounds and it is a very close-knit community,” said Alice Kaushal a member of the Indian Multicultural Society. 

“It is an extremely supportive group made up mostly of first-generation immigrants from a range of different backgrounds and faiths.”

Within the group, there are Hindus, Christians and Muslims all living and working within the Launceston community as restaurateurs, hoteliers, teachers, doctors and dentists to name but a few. 

The community has a very full and bright social calendar and they help to organise and celebrate each other’s festivals.

“Everyone celebrates everything so we are constantly on the move,” Alice said.

“Most recently we have celebrated Garba night, which is an evening of dancing celebrated with great gusto in Gujarat. 

“Diwali will be celebrated on October 28, everyone will be there even though it is a festival primarily for Hindus. 

“And every year the Muslim community put on Eid al-Adha party for us and everyone in the community turns up.”

Diwali, also known as The Festival of Lights is celebrated around the world by Indians and is one of their most important festivals. Falling on October 19 this year, the Launceston community will celebrate on Saturday, October 28 at the Max Fry Hall, Trevallyn. 

For most Hindus, Diwali marks the return of deities, Rama and Sita to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. To celebrate their return, villagers lighted oil lamps that illuminated the path in the darkness. For others, the festival is linked to Lakshmi – goddess of wealth and prosperity.

Alice has been involved this year with the planning of the Launceston Diwali celebrations. 

“When you see the Indian community get together it’s a sea of bright colours, traditionally we are dressed up to the nines with gold and colour and Diwali is no different,” Alice said. 

“For Diwali, there will be lots of mini celebrations in homes leading up to the main event, homes will be decorated with footprints meaning that luxury has visited, lights or diyas will be lit to invite luxury into the home but also to symbolise light over darkness. 

“This year the evening will be full of dancing and celebrations, myself and some of my friends will be doing a dance that will be a combination of tradition and modern and will finish with the Kathak version of ‘Shape of You’ by Ed Sheeran.

“We are expecting more than 150 people at the event which will be a showcase of traditional entertainment.”

Away from the celebrations, the Indian families living in Launceston have created a really strong community, thanks in part to the Indian Multicultural Society, who have been key in bringing people together and welcoming people from all backgrounds. 

“I think one of the things that defines Indians is a sense of community, it is very visible when we have festivals but it’s even more visible when someone hits hard times,” Alice said.

“That sense of community is a conscious decision, friends and family are so important, in India you have so much interaction with family with celebrations, children being born and weddings and when you move away you miss that. 

“The diaspora are very close and so our friends here become family.”

Alice believes that the sense of community also plays an important role in the lives of the children who are growing up in Launceston to Indian parents. 

“It is important for the children to have a sense of identity particularly as an ethnic minority who are visibly different,” she said. 

“When the difference between you and other people is so visible it helps to have a strong sense of where you are from, I think it is really important. 

“For children, we chose this and by and large they are happy, but they need to know where they are from.”

The indian communities celebrations are open to the whole community and they encourage members of the public to come along.