Australia cha Raja Arts and Cultural Ganesh Festival 2024 celebrated in Adelaide
Posted on September 9, 2024
The United Indians of South Australia (UIOSA) organized the Australia cha Raja Arts and Cultural Ganesh Festival in Adelaide on September 7 and 8, 2024. The two-day event, which attracted a crowd of around 15,000 people, showcased a vibrant multicultural community.
The festival’s centrepiece was a towering 21-foot-high idol of Lord Ganesh, which was specially shipped from India for the occasion. Supported by the South Australian State Government, local council, sponsors, and donors, the event celebrated unity in diversity, drawing participants from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds, including Japan, Latvia, and Hong Kong, alongside performers from across India.
Around 50 cultural performances by artists and children from different backgrounds enthralled the audience, reflecting the rich diversity of the region. A key highlight was the aarti and Atharvashirsha chanting, performed by a group of children who had been preparing for two months leading up to the festival.
The festival also featured a Satyanarayan puja for 101 couples, with all necessary items provided by UIOSA. The organisers offered free meals (mahaprasad) to all visitors throughout the festival.
About UIOSA
UIOSA, a volunteer-run and not-for-profit organization, continues to foster cross-cultural harmony and bring communities together through this annual celebration. The UIOSA was formed in 2016 in Adelaide to address the cultural needs of Indian-origin people in South Australia. Supported by a large group of volunteers, the UIOSA has been organizing the Ganesh Festival every year to reinforce the spirit of togetherness and appreciate the richness of Indian culture and tradition.
In 2016, a group of enthusiastic and passionate individuals came together to create a like-minded forum to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi as a community festival. The result was the birth of the UIOSA and the launch of the Arts and Cultural Ganesh Festival in Adelaide.
Some photos from Australia cha Raja Arts and Cultural Ganesh Festival 2024
