Fest celebrates land and harvest

MODELLED on the Tamil tradition of Thai Pongal, a Multicultural Harvest Festival will return for the fourth year at Garibaldi Hall this month.

Set for Sunday 28 January, the event is an initiative of Sri Lankan-Australian, Neil Para.

It’s being held as a way to connect to the land, to show appreciation to local farmers, and to celebrate and highlight the ways in which people grow food in the broader Ballarat and Golden Plains regions.

Free cultural food is also set to be served.

“We have the festival at Garibaldi Hall because of the rural, farmland area,” Mr Para said.

“This festival gives us an opportunity to share knowledge from a variety of cultures in relation to food production and sustainable practices, and if anyone would like to show what they do at the harvest festivals in their country and culture, we would love to see that.”

A Sri Lankan Tamil tribute to the sun is planned, which acknowledges the Thai Pongal foundations of the festival.

Mr Para said the event’s attendance has grown each year, and in 2024 more activities are booked for children, including a jumping castle, and families can relax with live music, and ice-cream and barista-made coffee.

“We’re also going to have some stalls, and some talks, including one all about bee hives,” he said.

“We would really appreciate if people can register for their free tickets, as we don’t want to have any food waste, or not have enough food and turn people away.”

Mr Para is originally from Sri Lanka, and Thai Pongal is not only celebrated there but in countries including India, Singapore, and Malaysia.

The Garibaldi Hall is on Hardies Hill Road, Garibaldi and the event will run from 9.30am to 1pm, with a welcome to country and smoking ceremony by First Nations people.

“If people enjoy the event, we encourage them to donate some money or time to plan for next year’s festival,” he said. “We would really appreciate that.”

Register for a free ticket at bit.ly/4aEiwGR. Message the Facebook page, Multicultural Harvest Festival Australia, if you’d like to have a stall or show your cultural harvest festival practices.

For updates and more information on the Multicultural Harvest Festival, visit mhfaustralia.org.