This year the Pakistan High Commissioner took the initiative to encourage Pakistanis and other Muslim communities to participate in the National Multicultural Festival. The Festival was held from Friday 17th Feb to Sunday 19th Feb 2023 in the CPD of Canberra, ACT. It celebrates the cultural diversity of the Australian population and features a range of music, dance, food, and art from different cultural groups.
Multicultural events allow us to celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions, and backgrounds that make up our country. They allow us to showcase and learn about different customs, beliefs, and ways of life. These events help to build understanding and empathy among diverse communities. When we come together and learn about each other’s cultures, we can better appreciate our differences and find common ground. These events can help to promote social cohesion and inclusion by bringing together people from different backgrounds and creating a sense of community. They can help to break down barriers and build bridges between different groups. In these events, people can learn about the history, traditions, and values of different cultures, as well as provide opportunities to learn new skills and try new things.
Over 100 Pakistani members participated in the cultural parade where they held the flags and they chanted the national songs. The kids were wearing cultural dresses, marching through the streets of Canberra, food stalls, and stages showcasing performances from local and international artists.
Multiple stalls were set up to promote Pakistani handicrafts, clothes and other items. It was a purely collaborative effort from various community organisations. There are also workshops, cultural talks, and exhibitions that offer visitors the opportunity to learn more about different cultures and traditions.
Miss Shafaq Jafery, president of APWA, took her team to set up a stall there to promote the Pakistani community and their culture. They also took part in the parade as well. Beautiful group of people with a flag led by a dhole (Drummer).
Sujahir Ul Islam covered this whole event on behalf of PakOz, going live while the event was occurring and taking many videos and pictures along the way.
Shafqat Ali president of Young Innovators of Australia along with his team came from Sydney to promote and support the community. The community wants to say Thank You to Munawar Rafeeq from OSS Imports who donated Pakistani Food products to the community to introduce them to try products in Pakistan. Lots of people from all communities visited the stalls and show great interest in Pakistani dresses, especially the items made by hand.
The festival is a national event, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. It’s an excellent opportunity to experience the vibrant and diverse cultural scene in Canberra and to celebrate the multiculturalism that makes Australia such a unique and interesting place.
The event was well supported by the Pakistan High Commissioner Mr Zahid Hafiz Chaudhri and his team. Miss Asiya Mahar did a great role in the coordination of different community groups. You can see the clips and live streams on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PakAussie/
