MELBOURNE, 9 October 2025: The shadow of the recent anti-immigration & anti-multicultural rallies, echoed at the Premiers Diwali State Reception 2025, with the Premier slamming the rallies as unfair and wrong, during her maiden address to the more than a thousand present at the The Grand Hall, Centrepiece, Melbourne Park, Olympic Boulevard, during a glittering bash.
Not mincing words, Premier Jacinta Allan, said ‘You are not alone” and praised the Indian and migrant communities community for their resilience and said we value you bring to us, and sid Diwali brought to us the power of goodness.
The Premier’s strong backing of multicultural communities is being viewed as a prelude to next November’s state election, when Labor will seek a fourth consecutive term in Victoria. With four sitting MPs choosing to retire—and Labor vying for two of those seats—the Liberal Party faces internal divisions that continue to shake its prospects, heightening fears of another four years in opposition.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt MP, in her address, said Victoria’s vibrant and diverse communities, including South Asian groups, remain a key strength of the state. More than a thousand attendees, seated at around 120 tables and many dressed in traditional attire, enjoyed the symbolic lighting of diyas (lamps) by VIPs, a Lakshmi pooja, and a conversation between Premier Allan and actor Pallavi Sharda. During the exchange, Allan reflected on her experiences as Victoria’s second woman Premier and shared her positive outlook on life in a multicultural state.
The evening saw wide representation from Indian, Nepalese and other South Asian communities; Members of Parliament; Victorian Multicultural Commission representatives; faith group leaders; and numerous multicultural organisations. Prominent guests included India’s Consul General in Melbourne, Dr Sushil Kumar; Mind Blowing Films’ Mitu Bhowmick Lange; and Hindu Council of Australia (Victoria) President Makarand Bhagwat.
Entertainment highlights featured the Ghanshyam Pipe Band, classical dance performances by Nrityataranga Dance Academy and Rachana Natyalaya, and a vibrant showcase from Nepali group NepAus Crew. Guests were treated to a Jain vegetarian dinner with entrées of pakoras, paneer tikka and chutney, followed by a main course of zaffrani paneer, navrattan korma, bhindi masala, dal makhani, jeera matar pulao, boondi raita, and home‑style paratha and naan bread. Traditional Diwali sweets—motichoor ladoo, kala jamun and malai sandwich—were served for dessert.
Inputs – Shobhit, Siddharth.
