Our diverse multicultural society is successful because we respect and embrace the rights of all Australians to practise, celebrate and maintain their cultural and religious traditions, within the law. This vast diversity has been absorbed into our culture and today we benefit from a unique mix of skills, experiences, culture and enthusiasm. We owe our accomplishments to the contributions of more than 300 ancestries-from the First Australians to the newest arrivals. Indian Australians contribute across all facets of Australian life-helping to ensure we continue to be one of the most successful multicultural nations in the world. In 2017-18, India was the largest source country of new permanent migrants to Australia and more than 135,000 Indian nationals have taken the pledge to become valued Australian citizens during the past six years. More than 50,000 people in Australia speak Malayalam at home, of whom almost 17,000 live in Victoria. Today, around 700,000 people of Indian ancestry including Malayalee call Australia home, of whom more than 230,000 live in Victoria. Indian Australians have been a part of the Australian community since the 1800s. Today’s event provides an opportunity for us all to share in the food, dance, music, games, traditional costumes, and flowers that are characteristic of Kerala’s rich and vibrant culture, and to celebrate Australia’s Indian community. It is a time to unite and celebrate in harmony and friendship. Onam celebrations bring people together in the spirit of community, togetherness, generosity and righteousness. Mahabali’s spirit is said to visit Kerala each year at the time of Onam to check that his people are happy, well-fed and content. Onam is a harvest festival, marking the homecoming of the Asura king Mahabali, who ruled Kerala in ancient times. Today we celebrate the Indian tradition of Onam, the most important festival of the Indian state of Kerala, and for Australia’s Malayalee community, whose ancestral links are to Kerala. the leaders of other community groups who are present today.Īs the Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, it is truly a pleasure to attend this event.Adam Khan of the Casey Cardinia Region Tourism Organisation and President of the Casey Multifaith Committee and. Jithesh, Vice Chairman of the Kerala Cartoon Academy.Representatives of the City of Casey including:.The Honourable Anthony Byrne MP, Federal Member for Holt.I thank the Malayalee Association of Victoria for the kind invitation, in particular, I acknowledge office bearers: It is a delight and privilege to be here and to join you for this wonderful Onam celebration. I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land we are meeting on today, and pay respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging, and Aboriginal Elders of other communities who may be here today.
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