MELBOURNE, May 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- To mark the beginning of a new solar year, the Swinburne Punjabi Club hosted Vaisakhi festival celebrations at the Hawthorn campus.
Vaisakhi is one of the most significant holidays in the Sikh calendar and has special significance for two of India's major religious groups. It signifies the beginning of the Hindu solar year and celebrates the establishment of Khalsa, the baptism of the Sikhs, in 1699.
President of the club, Meit Shah said this year's Vaisakhi celebrations brought together performers from most of Victoria's universities.
"The festival is a very colourful event and the performances show cased different cultural dances and other cultural activities, and was of course accompanied by delicious authentic Indian food.
"The celebrations were also a great way to welcome new students to Swinburne and to encourage cultural understanding among different communities at the university and within the local community."
"We were delighted that Swinburne Chancellor, Mr Bill Scales, and Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andy Flitman, were also able to attend and enjoy the festivities."
The Swinburne Punjabi Club has been running for nearly four years and during that time has celebrated numerous cultural events, including Vaisakhi, Diwali, Holi, and the Indian Independence day.
Colourful photos of the celebrations can be downloaded at http://www.swinburne.edu.au/chancellery/mediacentre/media-centre/news/2011/04/swinburne-celebrates-vaisakhi-festival
Contact:
Meit Shah
President
Swinburne Punjabi Club
Tel: +61-4-3314-2023
Email: meit_89@yahoo.co.in
Heather Crosling
Associate Director
Media and Communications Unit
Swinburne University of Technology
Tel: +61-3-9214-5968
Mob: 0416-174-962
Fax: +61-3-9214-8383
Read Swinburne's latest media releases at www.swinburne.edu.au/mediacentre
