INDEPENDENT magazine group HAWKESBURY • HILLS • BLACKTOWN
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Celebrate the festival of lights with the Blacktown City Diwali Lights contest
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Blacktown City Council ’ s much-loved Diwali Lights Competition has returned for 2023 , with residents encouraged to light up their homes .
Entries in the annual competition are now open in celebration of the ancient Hindu festival of Diwali , known as the Festival of Lights . Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM is inviting residents of all cultural and religious backgrounds to decorate their homes with lights , with cash prizes on offer .
“ The Blacktown City Diwali Lights Competition is a spectacular opportunity for the community to come together , and is growing each year ,” Mayor Bleasdale said .
“ Blacktown City is proudly home to many residents from the Indian sub-continent , including more than 51,000 Hindus and 18,000 Sikhs .
“ The festival of Diwali holds a special place in these communities , with the celebration becoming a part of the fabric of the culture of our city .
“ Our residents have produced many spectacular Diwali displays in recent years , with families
Prospect ’ s Roneel Kumar and his family with their dazzling display of Diwali Lights in the 2022 Blacktown City Diwali Lights Competition .
travelling all over Sydney to marvel at the beautifully decorated homes .
“ I cannot wait to see the fabulous entries to come in the Diwali Lights Competition this year .”
More than $ 2,500 in cash prizes will be on offer for the best-decorated properties across Blacktown City ’ s five wards . Prizes will again be awarded for ‘ Best Street ’ and ‘ Best Rangoli ’ ( colourful artworks made from sand , flower petals , flour or rice ).
Judging criteria will be based on the overall appeal of the decorations visible on the front of the property only .
Preliminary judging will take place between Wednesday , 1 November and Wednesday , 8 November , inclusive , between 8pm and 11pm .
Entries will be open until 5pm on Tuesday , 31 October 2023 . To enter , and for more information , visit : www . blacktown . nsw . gov . au / Community / Awardsscholarships-andcompetitions / 2023- Diwali-Lights Competition .
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4 ISSUE 32 // NOVEMBER 2023 theindependentmagazine . com . au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT