The spirit of Diwali shone brightly as the NRISA community gathered on October 19, 2025, for a day filled with light, laughter, music, and togetherness.
The celebrations began with a cheerful meet and greet, followed by a traditional acknowledgment and a heartfelt welcome from the President, Mr. Prem Sinha, who spoke about the significance of Diwali and the upcoming Be Connected Week online program, an Australian government initiative committed to building the confidence, digital skills and online safety of older Australians.
The Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Shashi Gupta, provided a brief overview of the Diwali Program and housekeeping notes before the ceremonial lighting of candles by the Honoured Guest Hon.Ged Kearney (Federal Member of Parliament for Cooper) and lady members — Pratima Srivastava ji, Usha Modi ji, Dr.Mindi Nath, and Jai Mangla ji— which set the perfect festive tone, followed by a serene Laxmi Vandana (prayer).
The audience was inspired by an address from Hon. Ged Kearney, and the moment was captured in a group photo of NRISA members.
Then came the highlight of the day — an energetic and colorful cultural showcase featuring:
🎵 A soulful Bollywood performance of “Raam Aayenge” by Vijay Patel
💃 Graceful Kathak dance by Aadya and Aarushi from the Ghunghroo School of Kathak Dance
🎶 A mesmerizing sitar and vocal performance by Madhav Joshi and Uma Kiran
🎤 Lively songs by Sameer Murthy, Uma Kiran, and Dr. Bhim Sen
💫 And more Bollywood flair from Vijay Patel, who kept the audience smiling and singing and dancing along!
The event also formally launched “Be Connected Week” online program by Dr. Tejinder Singh & Dr.Santosh Gupta, encouraging the community to participate in all the activities and engagements. The day wrapped up with warm thanks from the MC and a delicious vegetarian lunch, giving everyone a chance to relax, connect, and celebrate together.
This year’s Diwali function truly embodied NRISA’s values of culture, connection, and celebration — lighting up hearts and strengthening the bonds that make our community shine. 🌟
{hotos. Courtesy Mr. Guruswamy Perumal