Source: Australia Government Ministerial Statements – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Colourful celebration for Australian Hindus

Media Release by The Hon Craig Laundy MP

23 March 2016

The Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Craig Laundy MP, today wished a happy Holi to all Australians celebrating the festival.

Holi, the Hindu festival of colours, marks the beginning of the northern spring and celebrates renewal and the triumph of good over evil with feasts and people decorating each other with coloured powder and coloured water.

It is celebrated by millions of people around the world, including in India, Nepal, Europe, the US and of course, Australia.

Mr Laundy said Hindu Australians are a well-established, integrated and diverse community and play an important role in the social, cultural and economic fabric of our nation.

People of Hindu faith are estimated to number more than 370,000 in Australia. They identify with more than 150 ancestries including, Indian, Nepalese, Tamil, Fijian Indian and Sri Lankan and include many who were born here in Australia.

“Celebrations of important religious days such as Holi remind us that we are a successful multicultural and migrant nation.

“Most of the world’s religions are practised in Australia, and our cultural and religious diversity is very important to us as individuals, as communities and as a country.

“Cultural expression and faith are important elements in our society,” Mr Laundy said.

“We respect the rights of all Australians to celebrate, practise and maintain their cultural traditions within the law and free from discrimination.”

Mr Laundy said Australians everywhere have been celebrating our cultural diversity by taking part in Harmony Day events held on and around 21 March.

“Harmony Day is a time where Australians from all walks of life come together to take part in thousands of events celebrating our cultural diversity,” he said.

For more information about Harmony Day, go to www.harmony.gov.au. For more information on the Australian Government’s work in multicultural affairs and settlement services, go to https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-and-multicultural-affairs

Source: http://foreignaffairs.co.nz/2016/07/19/colourful-celebration-for-australian-hindus/