Australia
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrated Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas on Friday by visiting a temple and a gurdwara in Sydney. The 61-year-old leader, sporting an orange turban, shared photos of his visit to the Sydney Murugan Temple and the Gurdwara Sahib Glenwood on social media platform X, where he also shared heartfelt messages about the significance of the events.
Albanese expressed his joy at joining the Tamil Australian community at the Sydney Murugan Temple, a sanctuary for the South Asian Hindu community in Western Sydney. “Deepavali celebrates the victory of light over darkness. Fantastic to join with the Tamil Australian community at the Sydney Murugan Temple today. The temple draws in people from all walks of life every day,” he wrote.
At the Gurdwara Sahib Glenwood, Albanese took part in the Bandi Chhor Divas celebrations, where he posed for photos with community members and snapped a selfie with devotees. During his visit, he also inaugurated the gurdwara’s newly expanded kitchen, which serves thousands of meals to the community weekly. “Happy Bandi Chhor Divas! Wonderful to celebrate at Gurdwara Sahib Glenwood today and open the newly expanded kitchen,” he said in another post on X.
Earlier, on Thursday, the Prime Minister extended warm wishes for Diwali, or the Festival of Lights. He noted, “This annual festival of joy, hope, and togetherness is a beautiful celebration embraced by Australia’s diverse and vibrant society.” Albanese emphasized the values celebrated by Diwali, highlighting its affirmation of ideals shared by Australians from all backgrounds.
Albanese’s participation in Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas adds him to a growing list of global leaders acknowledging the cultural and spiritual richness of these festivals, celebrated widely in India and among Indian communities worldwide.
