Our Community celebrated Saraswati Puja across Australia over the last weekend. Our communities in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Perth maintained the tradition. One of such tradition is “Khadi Chhuan”. On the day parents of kids about to go to school normally take the opportunity to initiate the little one to writing/studying in front of Maa Sarswati. This puja was no different, we saw Odia parents across Australia taking pride in initiating their little ones to the world of education through ‘Silata-Khadi’ and seeking the blessings of Maa Sarswati.
Saraswati Puja is the first community event of the year for the Odia community of Australia which also coincides with renewal of our membership for the new year.
A traditional Odia Puja bhoji with homemade Odia dishes added much to the ongoing social and cultural life of us Odias down under.
Last weekend was also a super weekend for our ACT community, during the weekend they also participated in ACT multicultural festival which included Chariot Festival, Odissi Dance and other Odia cultural items.