City celebrates harmonious diversity

HARMONY Fest is in full swing, celebrating and sharing everything vibrant about Ballarat’s cultural diversity until Saturday, 26 March.

Today, Thursday, 17 March, is St Patrick’s Day, and a flag raising ceremony opposite the Town Hall at 10.30am will be one of the first events of the Fest, which is in its 12th year and all about inclusiveness, respect, and belonging for all residents and visitors.

Islamic Society of Ballarat’s Syed Umar said intercultural friendship and collaboration benefits everyone.

“When we get to know people from other cultures we can assimilate better in the wider community,” he said.

“Harmony Fest helps us understand each other and get over some of the misconceptions people may have in some cases.

“It serves the purpose of creating harmony amongst all the different people we have in Ballarat.”

The Ballarat Welcome Centre is hosting an open day, and a twilight market today. Tomorrow, Friday, 18 March, the city’s first peace pole will be installed at Sebastopol Primary School, and an intercultural celebration will be held at the Ballarat South Community Hub, with performances, workshops, and food.

Saturday is jam-packed with tai chi by Lake Wendouree, a morning tea with the Islamic Society of Ballarat at the library, a Ballarat African Association multicultural panel talk at the Eureka Centre, Indian Film Festival screenings at the Regent, and the HOLI Festival of Colours at Victoria Park.

This Sunday’s events include a Eureka Centre talk on the Chinese Miners’ Residence Tax Revolt of 1859, a Filipino Australian Association of Ballarat celebration at Victoria Park, an Interfaith Walk for Peace, and Ballarat Mosque Open Day.

A flag-raising ceremony opposite the Town Hall will be held on Monday, 21 March, which is the official Harmony Day, before a second huge week of multiculturally rich events kick off including the Indian Food Festivals and the Intercultural City Extravaganza.

Visit bit.ly/3q3U8J5 for the full program.