MEDIA RELEASE
19/10/2016
Come celebrate Deepavali at the Swan Festival of Lights
Come celebrate Deepavali at the Swan Festival of Lights at the newly opened iconic Elizabeth Quay, from Friday 28 October 2016 to Sunday 30 October 2016, with delicious food, fantastic performances and spectacular fireworks.
Since 2008, the Swan Festival of Lights (SFOL) – Celebrating Deepavali Together, has been illuminating the City of Perth with its vision of ‘spreading the light’ and taking its festival goers on a journey through the world with a multitude of colours, rhythms and flavours, providing a stellar experience for all the senses. The Swan Festival of Lights is celebrated in culmination of the well-known Indian festival of Deepavali (Diwali), a cultural festival celebrating the universal theme of light triumphing over darkness.
The 2016 Swan Festival of Lights, hosted by Saraswati Mahavidhyalaya (SMV) and Annalakshmi Cultural Centre, is supported by the City of Perth, Government of Western Australia - Office of Multicultural Interests, Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority, Healthway promoting the LiveLighter message, Lotterywest and Synergy.
The festival is a free entrance, family friendly (smoke and alcohol free) event that runs from Friday 28th October to Sunday 30th October, starting at 4.30PM.
The festival will feature an exquisite array of multicultural performing groups, paying homage to the variety of traditions in our diverse Australian community, as well as fostering intercultural exchange. Be wowed by Saraswati Mahavidhyalaya and The Temple of Fine Arts International’s vibrant and enriching dance and music performances. The festival will be featuring world-renowned sitar maestro Ustad Usman Khan and a sarangi performance by Ustad Dilshad Khan, nephew of the legendary late Ustad Sultan Khan.
The artistic and cultural theme for The 2016 Swan Festival of Lights will feature the Southern Indian State of Kerala. For the first time in years, Western Australia will witness the world-famous Kathakali performance by Margi Somadas and Troupe, who will entertain us with their colorful costumes, make up and vibrant movements. Keeping with our theme of Kerala, we will also be having Nithya Chaithanya, martial artists from the ancient art form of Kalari, as well as a spectacular Chenda Melam performance by The Perth Shinkary Club.
With delectable vegetarian delights prepared by Annalakshmi satisfying appetites throughout our Festival, exclusive handicrafts by Lavanya Arts, as well as a range of cooking, art, music and dance workshops, demonstrations and family friendly activities, the festival provides an atmosphere sure to enrich Perth with an extraordinary experience of sights, sounds and smells. The festival culminates every evening with the highly popular spectacular fireworks!
For the first time in Swan Festival of Lights history, come and enjoy a movie under the stars at our Outdoor Cinema powered by Synergy. A perfect event for the whole family to enjoy!
Join us in making this Deepavali extra special through the art of giving, by floating a lamp on the quay and lighting up the lives of those in need. The Swan Festival of Lights warmly supports the Down Syndrome Association of Western Australia (DSAWA) AND Siva Shanta Mother & Child Centre (SSMCC), and as such part proceeds of each lamp that is floated on the quay will be donated to these charities.
* Annalakshmi Indian vegetarian cuisine daily from 4:30pm.
* Performances begin nightly from 6:00pm, with fireworks finale.
* FREE ENTRY
* Smoke & Alcohol-Free Festival.
Watch our Promo video below to get a taste of what you will experience at our event!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO3iD_46eqg&feature=youtu.be
The Swan Festival of Lights is proud to announce our very own mobile app!
iOS: http://apple.co/2ePBkdE
Android: http://bit.ly/2e0bErW
Have all the information you need on the festival and whats on in one place!
Available for download at the Apple Store or Google Play, the app is the complete interactive experience for all our festival goers! You can also head to our website www.sfol.com.au and click the banner at the top of the page!
You can keep up with us on Social Media at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/smvperth or https://www.facebook.com/events/187889114960346/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/swanfest
Twitter: www.twitter.com/swanfest
Show us your beautiful pictures and posts, be sure to add the hash tag#SFOL2016 so we don't miss them!
For more details on the Swan Festival of Lights 2016 - Celebrating Deepavali Together, please visit www.sfol.com.au.
If you would like to contribute to The Swan Festival of Lights and support our vision, you can do so by donating to our GoFundMe page -
https://www.gofundme.com/SFOL2016. Any amount big or small is greatly appreciated!
We look forward to spreading the light together!
ENDS
Media contact
Somun Balasubramaniam
Swan Festival of Lights
somun.balasubramaniam@smv.org.au