Diwali: A Festival of Light, Unity, and Indian Goodwill in Australia
By Jitendra Deo,
Chief Executive Officer
JD Group Australia
As the glow of diyas begins to light up homes across the world, Diwali – the Festival of Lights – arrives not only as a cherished religious and cultural celebration but as a powerful symbol of unity, identity, and goodwill, especially for the Indian diaspora in Australia.
In a multicultural nation like Australia, festivals such as Diwali transcend their traditional roots. They become more than personal or community affairs they serve as platforms for connection, understanding, and soft diplomacy. As the Indian diaspora continues to grow in numbers, strength, and influence across Australia, Diwali offers a moment to reflect on how we, as a community, can deepen our collective impact and build bridges with the broader society.
At its heart, Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. These are universal values, not bound by religion or nationality. When we open our homes, temples, community halls, and city centres to Diwali celebrations, we invite fellow Australians into our cultural world and in doing so, we foster understanding, respect, and inclusion.
The Indian community in Australia is now over 900,000 strong, making it one of the fastest growing and most influential diaspora groups in the country. We are scientists, educators, business owners, artists, students, and public servants. In every sector, Indians contribute meaningfully to the fabric of Australian society.
But with this growth comes responsibility. We must ensure that our success is matched by social cohesion that we do not just live in Australia but actively participate in shaping its future.
Diwali gives us an opportunity each year to extend a hand to local communities, to First Nations people, and to other migrant groups and say: Let us celebrate together. Let us build goodwill.
It is no secret that India’s global influence is rising. From technological innovation and space exploration to yoga, cinema, and cuisine, India’s soft power has never been stronger. The Indian diaspora is a key player in this, we are cultural ambassadors, whether we realise it or not.
The world is watching India’s ascent, and Australians are taking note too. Events like Diwali allow us to project not just cultural pride, but also a modern, inclusive, and globally minded India one that celebrates its ancient roots while embracing the future.
This soft power, when harnessed properly, is an invaluable tool. It fosters not just appreciation for Indian traditions, but trust, collaboration, and friendship across borders. And in Australia, where multiculturalism is a national value, our festivals play a vital role in enhancing India’s image and our community’s place within it.
Yet, while we talk about unity with others, we must not forget unity among ourselves. The Indian diaspora is wonderfully diverse, spanning regions, religions, and languages. Diwali, though celebrated differently across traditions, is a perfect time to remember what we share.
Let Diwali be a time where Gujarati, Tamil, Punjabi, Bengali, Telugu, and all other Indian communities come together not as fragments of India, but as one Indian Australian identity, proud, united, and forward-looking.
A Light for the Future
As Diwali lights up our skies and our hearts, let us use its radiance to guide our purpose. Let it remind us that every diya lit is a chance to build bridges, heal divisions, and create goodwill, not just with the broader society, but within our own diaspora.
India’s power in the world is not just measured by GDP or satellites. It is also measured in how we, as its global citizens, carry our values into the world. This Diwali, may we choose light, not only to illuminate our homes, but to light the path ahead for generations of Indian Australians to come.
