Winter Reflections, Community Strength, and What’s Ahead This Season
Dear AUSTRALIAN Indian Times Readers,
I hope you’ve been staying warm and soaking up the beautiful winter days that July brings here in Brisbane. For me, winter is always a time to pause, reflect, and reconnect—with myself, my family, and with all of you. Thank you for your kind messages, your thoughtful conversations, and for the ongoing support you show one another and this vibrant community we’re so lucky to be part of.
I want to begin by acknowledging those doing it tough right now—those facing illness, grief, or financial pressure. Please know you’re not alone. Community means being there for each other in every season, and I want to remind you that if you need a helping hand, you can reach out. Over the past month, I’ve spoken with many who are struggling with unexpected healthcare costs. Visiting the GP has become more expensive for some, especially with new out-of-pocket charges for scans or pathology tests that used to be covered under Medicare. For those without pension or a health care cards, it’s even harder. If you’re in this position, please reach out—I may be able to connect you with local not-for-profits or community organisations that can help with medical costs, food parcels, or other support.
On a more uplifting note, July has been rich with cultural and spiritual significance. Many observed Ashadi Ekadashi, marking the beginning of Chaturmas—a sacred time in the Hindu calendar for prayer, fasting, and spiritual reflection. It was a joy to see so many families sharing this beautiful tradition in their own ways.
We also came together as a wider community to celebrate NAIDOC Week, held from 6–13 July. It’s always a powerful reminder to listen to, honour, and learn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures—the oldest continuing cultures in the world. I encourage everyone to carry the spirit of NAIDOC into everyday life, not just for one week a year.
This month also brought attention to our shared responsibility to care for the environment. National Bee Keeping Day on 19 July reminded us of the essential role bees play in our ecosystem, and on 28 July, World Nature Conservation Day called us to reflect on our environmental impact and how we can do our part for future generations.
Looking ahead, there are some exciting community events I’m thrilled to share. First, the GOPIO India Day Fair returns to Roma Street Parklands on 17 August—an event I’ve loved since childhood. I recently had the pleasure of attending the fundraising dinner alongside GOPIO members, local leaders, and community friends, and it filled me with pride to see the dedication behind this celebration and of course – JD and Sandy. I’m always thrilled to catch up with them. It’s a wonderful day of dance, food, culture, and unity that always feels like a giant family reunion.
Pencil these dates in your diary: 4 October, The Grand Diwali Festival returns to Dreamworld—a magical evening filled with fireworks, music, food trucks, and joy! And on 5 October, CrestWalk 2025 invites us all to walk together in support of mental health, community connection, and wellbeing.
August is also Multicultural Queensland Month—a time to reflect on inclusion and the beauty of diversity. I’d like to sincerely thank the Deo family and the Queensland Multicultural Council Inc. for their tireless work championing cultural voices across Queensland. Their continued efforts to support inclusive community events and publish stories that matter help us all feel heard, seen, and valued.
During the school holidays, I had the chance to volunteer with the Mustangs Rugby Union Club in Forest Lake. In the leadup to Multicultural month, I will make special mention of their President, Elisaia ‘Saia’ Taufao, who is a quiet achiever making a big impact. Saia’s passion for community, youth sport, and Pacifica leadership is truly inspiring. He reminded me how sport brings people together and builds resilience, especially in young people. The club is in need of support—so if you’re in a position to sponsor, donate, or volunteer, please reach out to Saia directly. Every bit makes a difference.
And just a friendly nudge—I hope you kept all your receipts! As we step into the new financial year, several important tax changes have come into effect. There are new income tax brackets offering relief for low and middle-income earners, a 20% HECS-HELP loan reduction planned for June 2025, continued asset write-offs for small businesses, and superannuation contributions increasing. If you’re unsure how these changes affect you, please seek advice from a qualified financial advisor or accountant.
As always, if there’s a topic you’d like me to cover or a story you think deserves to be told, I’d love to hear from you. This column is about all of us—and I’m so grateful to be on this journey with you.
BRISBANE, QLD – The vibrant spirit of Bengal resonated through Clayfield on Saturday, May 10th, as Brisbane’s Bengali community came together for a spectacular celebration of the Bengali New Year, known as Poyla Boishakh (Naba Barsho). Organized by The Bengal community group, the fifth annual “Nababarsher Boithok O’ Noishobhoj” (Bengali New Year’s Gathering and Dinner) at Clayfield Uniting Church, marked a joyous occasion for Bengalis residing in Brisbane and beyond.
Poyla Boishakh, also sometimes referred to as Ekla Boishakh or Pohela Boishakh, holds immense cultural significance for the Bengali community symbolizing cultural identity and the region’s rich heritage. It marks the auspicious start of the Bengali New Year, a day traditionally considered ideal for new beginnings, from launching businesses to purchasing new assets. Celebrated with great zeal across West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bangladesh, its enthusiasm has now spread to Bengali communities worldwide, including Brisbane.
The evening commenced precisely at 6:32 PM with a ceremonial inauguration lamp, lighted by respected Umesh Chandra-OAM, setting a traditional and auspicious tone. The cultural program that followed was a delightful showcase of local talent. Young Bengali kids impressed the audience with their performances, while Raina Dutta captivated with “Bechey Thakar Gaan,” and Arundhuti Mukherjee stirred emotions with “Jadi Tor Daak Suney Keyo Na Asey.” The “Brissy Sisters” Zaisha & Annesha Chakrabarty charmed everyone singing “Kamola Nrittya Korey,” and Vivek Roy Pradhan delivered popular Arijit Singh scores, “Ke Tui Bol” and “Saman Re.” Rishav Mandal expertly served as the Master of Ceremony for this cultural segment. Arghya Mukherjee and Mithun Chakrabarty was incharge of stage management.
A highlight was the vibrant “Best Dressed Up” competition across four categories: Sera Bouma (Best Dressed Lady), Sera Babumasai (Best Dressed Male), Sera Khukumoni (Best Dressed Girl), and Sera Khokababu (Best Dressed Boy). Participants ranging from 6 to 60 years graced the ramp with traditional Bengali attire. Atandtila Saha (Sera Bouma), Ranjan Saha (Sera Babumasai), Raina Dutta (Sera Khukumoni), and Aariv Goswami (Sera Khokababu) emerged as the winners, judged by Sudipto, Saheli and Saurav Chanda. Additional quiz prizes were won by Portia Joshi, Brinda Mitra Dutta, Sulagna Paul Chowdhury & Sudeshna Paul, with Anjan Kundu coordinating the entire program. The evening concluded with a raffle, where guests eagerly won attractive prizes.
The seamless execution of the event was a testament to the dedicated efforts of the organizing team, including Mantu Sarkar, Banibrata Mukherjee, Sudipto Dutta, Saurabh Chanda, Saswata Mukjerjee, Pinaki Guha, Kajol Roy Pradhan, Jyothin Joshi, Saheli Mukherjee, Sarbani Dhur, Sangeeta Roy Pradhan, Lopamudra Ghosh, Sweta Kishore, Surajt Bhattyacharya, Rajib Paul, Soumitra Rao and others. All the special moments captured by reknowned photographer Krishnendu Bhattyacharya.
Every guest received a thoughtful gift bag containing a traditional Bengali Calendar, shopping vouchers, and snacks, adding to the festive takeaway. The Bengal extended heartfelt thanks to their generous sponsors: Swarop from Swades Foods, Benny from Indian Spice Shop, Kiran from All India Food (Woolloongabba), Sree from Dosa Hut (Aspley), Sunny from Bombay Dhaba, Amrit from Cabbage Patch Market (Deagon), Troy from Coco’s Annerley, Debdep Panigrahi from V Property and Soumitra Rao. The Australian Indian Times and Australian Indian Radio served as proud media partners for the event.
Message from the Host – Deo Family Charitable Foundation
New Jersey, USA: Indian actor-producer Vishnu Manchu lit up the Regal Commerce Center in North Brunswick on May 8th as he kicked off the U.S. leg of the Kannappa promotional tour, marking exactly 50 days until the highly anticipated global release of the film on June 27, 2025.
Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and produced by Mohan Babu, Kannappa is a sweeping Pan-Indian language cinematic experience that unites some of Indian cinema’s biggest stars — Mohanlal, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar (in his Telugu debut), and Kajal Aggarwal — with Vishnu Manchu in the titular role.
“The response here in New Jersey has been overwhelming,” Vishnu added. “The Indian diaspora holds onto our culture in powerful ways. With Kannappa, I hope we’re giving them a story that feels both ancient and urgently relevant.”
With its rich historical inspiration, soul-stirring music, and unprecedented ensemble cast, Kannappa is poised to be one of the most anticipated Indian releases of the year, aiming to captivate both traditional filmgoers and new audiences across borders.
Globally Acclaimed Kirtan Musician To Bring His Soul Stirring Concerts To Australia
Brisbane recently witnessed a mesmerizing evening of music and nostalgia with Zara Si Aahat – Bollywood in HER Voice, a heartfelt tribute to the timeless female voices of Bollywood. Celebrating the spirit, grace, and individuality of legendary female playback singers, this live concert brought to life the songs that have defined generations of Indian cinema.
Each voice from Bollywood’s golden and modern eras – be it the ethereal tones of Lata Mangeshkar, the silken magic of Asha Bhosale, or the dynamic energy of Shreya Ghoshal – carries with it a unique identity and story. Zara Si Aahat honored these voices not just by revisiting their songs, but by embodying the emotional depth and musical excellence they brought to the silver screen.
The concert featured a lineup of immensely talented and well-known local musicians including Hari, Paramjeet, Sharad, Eswar, Pranav, Vatsal, Anvi, Nimar, and Binny, each of whom brought their own flair to the stage. Their live performances captured the essence of the original songs while adding a refreshing, local flavor.
One of the standout aspects of the evening was the inclusion of rare and previously unperformed Bollywood tracks – a true treat for connoisseurs and fans alike. For many, it was the first time hearing these hidden gems performed live in Brisbane, making the experience all the more memorable.
