Harpeet Singh and his young family went to the traditional Diwali celebrations a little early this year.

But it was for a good reason.

Diwali, also known as the Hindu festival of lights, is the biggest event in the Hindu calendar, celebrated with a five-day festival starting on October 29.

But Mr Singh and his family lit earthen lanterns and danced among Diwali decorations three weeks earlier in the regional Victorian town of Morwell.

The Gippsland city has brought forward its celebrations by a few weeks to allow Melbourne’s large Hindu community to pack up and make the pilgrimage east.

For Mr Singh, it was the first time his adopted home in regional Victoria really reminded him of India.

It was particularly important to him to share the celebration, in all its authenticity, with his two young children.

“My children were born here. They have no idea about our culture,” Mr Singh said.

Images and sounds

Upon entering Diwali celebrations in Morwell, guests are immediately overwhelmed by an explosion of color and the most delicious smells.

Traditional jewelry and Diwali decorations fill the space outside the hall where the event takes place, with folk performances from the Punjabi, South Indian, Aboriginal and Filipino communities flourishing inside.

Every few steps, visitors are greeted by a friendly face dressed in bright colors and traditional clothing.

Mr Singh said it was important for his children to understand the culture and traditions of Diwali.

“It’s very difficult for us to bring that to them without community events like this,” he said.

Community anchor

Jaai Parasnis is a senior lecturer at Monash University specializing in the economics of migration.

Dr Parasnis said events such as the Gippsland Diwali festival were important in fostering a sense of belonging within migrant communities.

“Especially for first-generation migrants who have family back home and whose ties are much closer,” Dr. Parasnis said.

“As well as for children, because having connections and having that cultural continuity helps to ground them and not make them feel foreign or different.”

Organizers of Morwell’s Diwali celebration have brought forward their celebration to encourage some of Melbourne’s more than 260,000-strong Indian community to have the opportunity to bolster the regional offering.

Distances traveled

Mandy K Sharma is among the Melburnians happy to travel to celebrate, coming from East Clyde, about an hour and 20 minutes’ drive away.

This is the first time Ms Sharma is running a stall for Diwali – a new venture she started with the help of her daughter.

“She helps me with the technological aspects and gives me the confidence to go to different places with my items,” Ms Sharma said.

Nine-year-old Ibadat Kaur is also celebrating.

Ibadat is dressed head to toe in traditional clothing and jewelry for her dance performance.

“I do bhangra and gidda… the traditional dance form of Punjabis and we dance and sing on Diwali,” she said.

A chance to connect

Vrinda Kartha and Gopika Menon were part of a dance performance comprising 12 women.

The group wore sarees with a traditional golden border and performed the South Indian dance – Thiruvathira.

“We managed to practice for more than three months, meeting weekly at one person’s home,” Ms. Kartha said.

Each week, a different house hosted the practice and offered various snacks from one of the cultures to share.

In total, almost 700 people attended the festival’s first celebrations in Morwell, a town of just over 14,000 people.

Mr Singh and his family continued the light festival at home when the actual date of the festival rang out late last month.

There was a moment during the early celebrations that will forever be etched in Mr. Singh’s memory, when he noticed the way his daughter looked at her mother.

“She is three and a half years old and she wants to dress like her mother in a traditional dress, which is very beautiful to see,” he said.

“She sees that around her now, and obviously it’s influenced her.”