As NAIDOC 2020 comes to a close for another year, we look forward to our next important cultural observation - Diwali, the Indian festival of lights. 

We hope you've enjoyed our look at just a few of our wonderful aboriginal women artists and fabric designers. These amazing, talented and strong women are artists, mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, wives - women who continue to contribute not only to their own communities but to us all. We have a last peek at a another beautiful aboriginal fabric in the picture above - Spiritual Women by Chanda Conway. Spiritual women reflects not only the creation of the physical world but also the creation and preservation of relationship between people themselve and with the land and animals. 

To me, it looks like lights scattered across the land - lights are a reflection as well for Diwali, the Indian Festival of Light, celebrating the return of the Hindu God Rama to his kingdom after 14 years in exile. 

Starting 14 November 2020, it is a festival that lasts 5 days and is celebrated during the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika (between mid-October and mid-November). 

Diwali is also often associated with Lakshmi, the Indian goddess of prosperity, and 2020 could definitely use some help in that department!

Australia and India have a long history together.- 

2.8% of the Australian population is made up from people of Indian origin, and we are home to over 600,000 Indian Australians!

In 2019, after 71 YEARS OF PLAYING, India became the first Asian cricket team to win a test series in Australia.

India has brought culture, cuisine and colour (and beautiful fabric) to Australia's multicultural community, so we hope you have a Happy Diwali and that 2021 will be a prosperous year for all!