Diwali 2024: Lighting Up Our Lives & Community – Celebrating Together for the 3rd Year!

On October 19th, 2024, Darji Samaj Sydney celebrated Diwali for the third year in a row, and this time we went bigger, brighter, and even more beautiful!

📌Woodcroft Neighbourhood Centre

This year’s festivities took place at the stunning Woodcroft Neighbourhood Centre, nestled right beside a serene lake with lush greenery all around. It’s easily one of the most picturesque venues we’ve ever had—and believe it or not, our very own Shivang Vakil booked it nearly 11 months in advance, knowing how high in demand this space is. Huge shoutout to him for securing the perfect Diwali hall!

The evening kicked off around 4 PM as families began arriving and catching up with familiar faces—lots of warm hugs, smiles, and excited chatter in the air. While our community mingled, an amazing team of volunteers was already in action, decorating the hall and setting up the ever-popular photo booth, which many used right away to snap memories before the program even began!

Setting the mood early on, our DJ treated everyone to a soulful mix of Gujarati cultural melodies, filling the space with warm, festive vibes. Meanwhile, outside, a professional photographer captured breathtaking family portraits by the lake and among the surrounding greenery.

Saturday, 19th October, 2024

By early evening, the spotlight shifted indoors, where our much-loved host Archana ben took the stage and led the main event with her signature energy and grace. The program featured a thoughtful new addition this year—kids' games—which kept the younger crowd happily engaged and part of the action. Adults weren’t left out either: we had a blast with rounds of dumb charades and a hilarious musical chair challenge that had everyone cheering and laughing.

As the sun set, the real sparkle began—firecrackers lit up the sky, with kids enjoying the show under close adult supervision. It was a magical sight reflecting pure joy.

Dinner followed shortly after—a delicious spread enjoyed in great company—and then we wrapped up the night the only way we know how: with energetic Garba dancing, bringing the community together once more in celebration and unity.

To relive the night and see all the wonderful moments captured, scroll to the bottom of this page for the full photo album via our Facebook link. Diwali 2024 was not just another event—it was a reminder of how far we’ve come as a community, and how beautiful it is when we celebrate together. Here’s to many more years of laughter, lights, and love within Darji Samaj Sydney!