Lalithakalalaya School of Bharatanatyam’s Ninth Annual Concert

Lalithakalalaya School of Bharatanatyam’s ninth annual concert was filled with grace, energy, colour and displayed immense talent. Smt Padmalakshmi Sriram, guru and founder of the school, choreographed and curated all the dances. Her passion, talent and devotion to Bharatanatyam permeated throughout the evening staging about 190 students.
The first half was on the Shiva Kudumbam. The evening began with an invocation of Lord Ganesha by children who were only four years old. This was followed by Nottuswaram, again performed by the young, in praise of Goddess Meenakshi. It was a delight to see these young kids conscientiously displaying the basics they have been taught in their beautiful colourful costumes.

The junior students presented a number of items confidently displaying a greater depth of their Bharatanatyam skills. These items were the Pushpanjali – to evoke the blessings of the Almighty, Mishra Alarippu – set in 7 rhythmic cycles, Dheena Karunakarane – in praise of Lord Shiva and lastly “Maha Kali” – a vibrant keertanam in praise of Goddess Shakthi.
Guru Smt Padmalakshmi derives tremendous pleasure and satisfaction in teaching adults who either did not have an opportunity to learn Bharatanatyam or their learning was disrupted. She was immensely proud of all their performances. The items they presented were Swarajathi – an ode to lord Shiva, Mudras – the depiction of the 28 Asamyutha Hasthas (single hand gestures) and Thirrupugazh – a beautiful composition in praise of Lord Muruga.

The second part of the concert was the dance drama “Skanda Vaibhavam” – an exploration of the avatara and lilas of Lord Muruga, the second son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. The dancers showcased the narrative nuances of Bharatanatyam to reveal the myriad facets of Lord Muruga’s life and the stories of His six abodes.
Guru Smt Padmalakshmi Sriram opened the dance ballad by presenting a beautiful invocatory item foreshadowing the story of Lord Muruga. This was followed by an enactment of the story on the creation of Lord Muruga to free the devas from the cruelties of the 3 demons/asuras, Surapadman and his brothers Tarakasura and Simhamukha, symbolising the triumph of good over evil.
The childhood lilas of Lord Muruga, also known as Subramanya, were presented next. The most notable is the explanation of the origin of the Palani Temple, one of the abodes of Lord Muruga.
Lord Muruga’s marriage first to Devayanai and subsequently the various guises He took to win over Valli, the daughter of a tribal chief was very creatively and skillfully presented by the dancers.

Smt Padmalakshmi Sriram must be highly commended for her courage, tireless effort and creativity in using a large number of students, even very young children, to stage this drama. It is a mammoth task to effectively utilise the talents of the students and assign them the appropriate roles. The costumes, music and props used were very impressive. The dance drama was very educational, as it not only vividly presented the story of Lord Muruga, but also captured the moral and spiritual values, which is valuable for our youth.
It is noteworthy that Lalithakalalaya School of Bharatanatyam is associated with Griffin College of London and Smt Padmalakshmi Sriram is the Brisbane co-ordinator. The school’s pilot batch sat for their grade one and two exams last year and all of them secured a distinction and merit. They were awarded their certificates.
The program was meticulously planned to include and provide for the diversity of her students in age, skills and talent.
After this mega production of Skanda Vaibhavam, our school is gearing up for its next concert by our senior students titled: Raghava Madhava with our live ensemble/orchestra on 3rd of August 2024 at St. John’s Anglican College.
Authored by – Lalithakalalaya School of Bharatanatyam

Eid Dinner Event by Crescent AusIndia Inc Celebrates Unity, Harmony, and Multiculturalism in Brisbane

[Brisbane, 22/04/2024] – Crescent AusIndia Inc, the esteemed Friends of Indian Muslims association, recently hosted an unforgettable Eid Dinner Event in Brisbane, drawing a diverse and enthusiastic crowd of guests, dignitaries, and community leaders. The event, held on 14th April 20204, served as a vibrant celebration of unity, harmony, and multiculturalism within the Queensland community.
The Honourable Peter Russo MP, Member for Toohey, graced the occasion with his esteemed presence, highlighting the significance of the event in fostering community cohesion and understanding. Joining him was the distinguished Indian Muslim community leader, Mr. Ali Kadri, CEO of the Islamic College of Brisbane, who provided valuable insights.
Representatives from the Queensland Police Commissioner’s Office also participated, symbolizing a collaborative effort towards promoting inclusivity and dialogue among diverse communities.
Crescent AusIndia Inc, a non-profit community association dedicated to serving Muslims of Indian origin in Queensland. Guided by the principles of justice, liberty, and equality, Crescent AusIndia Inc aims to foster collaboration among different communities, creating a harmonious and inclusive society where every voice is heard and valued.
“Our mission at Crescent AusIndia Inc is to empower individuals and promote understanding, tolerance, and active engagement in shaping a positive future for all Australians,” said Mr Yousuf AliKhan, President at Crescent AusIndia Inc.
The evening was filled with multicultural participation, featuring recitations of both the Australian and Indian national anthems and captivating performances that enchanted the audience. However, the highlight of the event was undoubtedly the delicious variety of food, including delectable desserts that left everyone thoroughly satisfied.
The Eid Dinner Event by Crescent AusIndia Inc served as a testament to the organization’s commitment to promoting dialogue, inclusivity, and cultural exchange, reinforcing the rich diversity that characterizes Queensland’s social landscape.
Authored by: Crescent AusIndia Inc

Chinmaya Mission Brisbane successfully celebrated its 5th Annual day

“Love is all you need” was the theme of Chinmaya Mission Brisbane’s annual day held on the 20th April. It included performances by over 150 children, youth and adults and was attended by over 350 people. The evening started with performances expressing love for Krishna and highlighting the highest form of Love for God. The children enchanted the audience with their mesmerizing performances. This was followed by chanting of a few verses from Chapter 2 of the Bhagvad Geeta by the students of the Geeta chanting class.
“You can often give without Love, but you can never Love without giving”- this was beautifully conveyed in Swami Shrikaranandaji’s talk as he captivated the audience with his storytelling.
Awards were presented by Swamiji to ‘outstanding’ and ‘most improved’ students within each class and all the teacher volunteers (sevaks) were also recognised. This was followed by a beautiful rendition of Matrstavanam- an offering of gratitude to Mother, “My Chinmaya Family”- a heart-warming performance by parents followed by a medley of energetic and moving performances showcasing love for country by the boys.
The dance drama by teenagers left a lasting impact emphasizing that Love for our environment is critical for our own wellbeing and future as we are all interconnected and interdependent- ‘One Earth One Family- Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. Finally, the youth wing of Chinmaya Mission- Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYKs) expressed the importance of self-love and love for life in order to win the world with Love.

Established in 1953 by devotees of Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, Chinmaya Mission endeavours to facilitate inner growth through the teachings of Vedanta, spiritual disciplines and community service. With a global presence spanning over 300 mission centers, our mission provides a distinctive educational curriculum catering to individuals of all ages and life stages. For further information about our Chinmaya Mission in Australia and about our Brisbane centre, please visit our webpage: https://www.chinmaya.com.au/pages/brisbane-centre.
Authored by: Chinmaya Mission, Brisbane

Victory Speech by Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele

Your Excellency, Sir David Vunagi, Governor General of Solomon Islands;
Fellow Members of Parliament;
Members of the diplomatic corps;
Members of the media;
Ladies and gentlemen
My good people of Solomon Islands, first I give praise and glory to our Father in Heaven for His continuous protection, guidance and blessings.
Let me also congratulate our people of our beloved country for electing their Members of Parliament on 17 April 2024. The people have spoken. Solomon Islands on that very day, in the words of the General Secretary of the g7+ who were observers during the election, celebrated a “festival of democracy”.
Today, the Members of Parliament that you elected have discharge their first duty, and that is electing the Prime Minister. I humbly stand before you, as your Members of Parliament have graciously elected me to serve you as your Prime Minister and of our beloved country. Past Prime Minister’s election have been met with act of violence and destruction. Our economy and livelihoods have suffered because of this violence. However today, we show the world that we are better than that. We must respect and uphold the democratic process of electing our Prime Minister and set an example for our children and their children.
I wish to pay tribute to the people of Guadalcanal for graciously giving up their land and allowing us to host our capital, Honiara. I continue to acknowledge the past, present and future traditional customary landowners of this place upon where we stand today and make this call for us inhabitants of Honiara, to show to our Landowners the respect that they should be given. Honiara has become home to many of us and we must treat it as such.
I also acknowledge the other candidate for Prime Minister, Hon. Mathew Wale and the other coalition group. I trust that as the alternative government you will be vigilant in providing the check and balance to the Government of National Unity and Transformation. Whilst we may be on opposing sides, we all have one ultimate purpose that is to serve our people and country. May God grant you wisdom in the discharge of your duty to our People.
My good people, it is reported that the recovery of the global economy is steady but slow. We as a country continue on the recovery path after the COVID -19 global pandemic and 2021 riots. The recent report by CBSI on the state of our economy is concerning and calls for a more focused and aggressive approach. It is not an easy task, but we will be reaching out to all relevant stakeholders as we progress on our road to recovery.
Our immediate task now is to appoint Cabinet and we will do that in the coming days. The next business to attend to is the Parliament meeting when all Member of Parliament will be taking their oaths before electing the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. I am sure that all Members of Parliament look forward to taking their oath.
The Government for National Unity and Transformation has already begun work on our Policy and 100 days program. We hope to unveil it soon. There are also a number of legislations that are ready to come before Parliament. These Bills include the Value Added Tax Bill, Special Economic Zone Bill, Mineral Resources Bill, Forestry Bill and others.
Cabinet will meet to decide on the priority legislative and policy programs for 2024, which includes whether we need to revise the 2024 Budget.

I am very humbled by the trust that my fellow Members of Parliament have bestowed upon me. This is indeed a historic moment for my people of Isabel Province as well, to have one of their sons as the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands. I will discharge my duties diligently and with integrity. I will at all times put the interest of our people and country above all other interests.
Leading a nation is never an easy task. I ask that you remember me and your Government in your daily prayers so we may serve as our Lord command.
My good people of Solomon Islands, I pledge my loyalty and fealty to our National Anthem, our Flag, the Constitution and our nation.
We are one people. We are one nation. We are Solomon Islands.
To God be the Glory great things He has done.
May God bless you all, May God bless the 12th Parliament and May God bless Solomon Islands from shore to shore.
Source: Solomon Islands Government, Department of Information

UK “Indian” Prime Minister meets India’s Prime Minister

Who be the best living example of a UK Indian than incumbent UK Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak third generation Indo-African migrant and the UK born second generation Indo British.
His grandparents, though not Girmityas but example of Indian migrants initially residents in a third world country, in this case in the East African region, then migrants to western democratic nation.
Also, unlike Girmityas mainly from West and Southern Indian, his grant parents were from Punjab in the North. A practicing Hindu though on few occasions as UK Prime Minister is required to participate in Judeo-Christian rituals as seen in His Majesty King Charle III coronation where he read a Biblical text; Colossians 1:9-17, which emphasises the love of Christ and the importance of service to others, aligns with the values of the British monarchy and the theme of the coronation liturgy, “Called to Serve”” In a future issue of your Brisbane Indian Times a more explicit and well researched commentary of the first British Prime Minister will be thoroughly expounded for your delight. That, we promise!
A major number of Indo Brits entered the UK in a rather ironic situation. These were descendants of Girmityas the British transported to the Caribbeans between 1838 and 1917.

Nearly half-a-million Indians under contracts to work on Caribbean plantations under the then British colonial rulers.
Soon after the second world war the UK experienced imminent and urgent workers shortage needed to rebuild the British Iles after the ruthless devastation of London and other major centers.
So, in 1948 these people and their descendants were invited to take up jobs in struggling industries and municipalities in rebuilding for Britain.
Now, passionately known as the ‘Windrush generation’ whose numbers has exponential increased in this modern Britian.
In a future issue of your Brisbane Indian Times we will explore “Windrush scandal” and the, recognition or lack thereof of one group of Windrush migrants in the Indo-Caribbean community and Britain as a whole.
From the mainland India, however, the period of highest migration to England was 1955-1975. At one stage in the Bradford area alone numbered about 13,000 Indians. 46% were Punjabis and 43.3% were from Gujarat.
Modern day UK have Indo-Brits from nearly every corner of the Indian Diaspora Global community.