Diwali 2008

In 2008, this event witnessed the rarest spectacle when for the very first time in Victoria, important political dignitaries such as the Premier of Victoria Hon John Brumby, Lord Mayor of Melbourne John So, Consul General for India Ms. Anita Nayer and the Opposition Leader in Victoria Hon. Ted Baillieu came together on the same stage to jointly officiate the event as flower petals showered down on them.

This event ran over two weeks and received a significant recognition when it joined the Melbourne International Arts festival and held its opening concert with internationally renowned Sitar artist Kartik Seshadiri.

More than 40,000 people of wider background attended the event, setting a record for any ethnic organization to draw such numbers in Melbourne and making it the biggest Diwali celebration in Australia.

The 10 days long lightening competition was extended for homes as well along with the business and was getting momentum and continued to spread out of Melbourne to over many cities of Victoria.