By Harish Velji
First female Premier of the New South Wales, Kristina Keneally not only has taken the relationship with the local Indian community where the former Premier Nathan Rees left off but has not only ran but sprinted with it.
As a part of the NSW Government’s Event Calender a new feature of the Calender will be a week long Indian Festival in Parramatta called ‘Parramasala’ – The Australian Festival of South Asian Arts that will put Western Sydney on the world stage.
Keneally government has been taking the major events to Western Sydney and not concentrating in Sydney only. A R Rehman show the main event in the Sydney festival also happened to be in Parramatta.
“This festival demonstrates NSW’s rich cultural heritage and will be premier arts event across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region,” Ms Keneally said.
“It embraces the cultural diversity of Western Sydney and sends a clear message about the importance of Indian culture to NSW.
“Parramatta has the biggest population of Indian and South Asian people in Australia, and is the perfect location of this festival.”
Ms Keneally said plans for the festival were ”particularly pertinent” at a time when Australian-Indian relations were being tested over a spate of attacks on Indian students, particularly in Melbourne.
Ms Keneally said the Parramasala festival follows the NSW Government’s plan to establish a round-table meeting of the Ministers, agencies and Indian leaders to address the safety concerns of international students and the Indian community.
Ms Keneally will hold her first meeting with Indian community leaders in February.
Minister for Western Sydney David Borger said the festival is a great example of local and State Governments working together in partnership.
“The NSW Government has worked closely with Parramatta City Council, the Australian Trade Commission, artists and cultural organisations in India on the festival concept. Mr Borger said.
“Parramatta will be a hive of activity with artist’s exhibitions and events from our South East Asia neighbours taking place in public spaces, unused buildings, lane-way and some of Parramatta’s most popular venues.”
“This festival will provide a fantastic boost for the local economy and something we can all be proud of.”
Indian Australian Arts and Film Association’s President Balaji Venkatarangan welcoming the new feature Parramasala said “Parramasala presents the best opportunity to bring unity through arts, music and culture.
“The Premier Keneally and her Government should be congratulated for this fine gesture.”
“We hope this event presents opportunity for my organisation and its members to be part of it.”
Parramasala was also welcomed by the newly established Harris Park Chamber of Commerce. Its interim spokesperson Ejaz Khan said “This initiative will strengthen the multiculturalism in Australia. It will generate lot of business and jobs for the local communities which are most needed in this crucial financial distressed period.”
“As the only Councilor of Parramatta City Council of South Asian origin I am really proud of the decision “ said Councilor Prabir Maitra of the Parramatta Council.
Now we can say Jai Jo Premier Kristina Keneally as well.
