INDIA NEWS
Nov 1-15, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 9
INDIANS IN AUSTRALIA
Australia domestic border VHP Cricket Club organizes cricket game restrictions eased V
The new measures followed an easing of restrictions in Victoria announced by Premier Daniel Andrews. Under the eased restrictions, Victoria residents can leave their homes for any reason, and can have a “household bubble” of five visitors. Pubs and restaurants can also serve outdoors. “I want to thank the border communities for their patience. We are able to ease restrictions on the border given the reduced risk of COVID-19 transmission in regional Victoria,” NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said. Previously, residents of regional Victoria in the border area could only enter NSW for a permitted purpose. According to Hazzard, the border region will also be expanded to include some areas around Pleasant Hills, Lockhart, Benalla, Bright and Mount Beauty. “Any person with an existing
border region permit will be able to take advantage of these changes, which we hope will make day to day life a lot easier for border communities,” Hazzard said. The border policy change also came after a drop in confirmed cases in Victoria, which recorded 28 new cases and eight deaths overnight, the lowest spike in about three months. The state’s 14-day averages also continued to fall. “That is a fantastic outcome and a tribute to the hard work, sacrifice and contribution every single Victorian is making,” Andrews said. However, residents in Melbourne, which moved from stage four to the first step of the roadmap for reopening with modest changes including more social interaction and more time outside, are still not allowed to travel to regional Victoria. People who unlawfully travel to regional Victoria from metropolitan Melbourne will be fined nearly 5,000 U.S. dollars under a new penalty designed to protect the regional areas. Seven permanent checkpoints will be reinforced on major freeways.
ISKCON to relocate and build a new temple
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SKCON in Brisbane, which is currently located at 32 Jennifer Street, is all set to relocate and build its new temple on the neighbouring land owned by ISKCON. A statement from ISKCON stated that it is their priority to commence construction for the new temple as soon as possible and they are exploring options to break up the build into multiple phases. Phase one would allow them to move the deities into a habitable structure with just the essentials. The remainder of the project could be completed at a later stage. Rajiv Pandit, an experienced structural engineer has joined the team to lead the project which is progressing well every day. The temple is very close to entering a “tender Phase” which will involve communicating with potential contractors to gauge a more accurate estimate of the cost of building the temple. Progress is also being made in other areas, including the development of a website which is expected to launch in the first half of November, and some aspects of the new temple design are being finalized, including the layout and the domes. The statement further stated that the project team is working closely with the engineers to determine the construction timeframe. A plan to relocate to the new temple premises is
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Idols of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai being developed based on this timeframe, the statement said. The statement also said that all of this progress is aiding in making the transition to the fundraising phase. “We had intended to start fundraising in March earlier this year, but the global spread of COVID-19 had a significant impact on the ability of potential donors to contribute. However given the sale of 32 Jennifer Street, we cannot delay any longer,” the statement said. “Our goal is to move the deities from 32 Jennifer Street directly into the new temple. This will be an incredible challenge which will only be achievable with Lord Krishna’s mercy and the full support of the community,” the statement further said.
It was a high scoring game (96 in 12 overs) with nail biting finish where both teams showed extraordinary gusto and talent. Motivated by the ‘Nari Shakti’ the men couldn’t resist having their own game (240 in 12 overs) after lunch and some amazing partnership by two new batsmen was also seen. VHP’s Women Cricket Team will participate in South Australian Cricket Association tournament this season.
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Sydney, 19 October: Border restrictions between the states of New South Wales and Victoria eased recently to allow residents to move freely within the region due to a drop in the number of fresh Covid-19 cases.
ishva Hindu Parishad’s VHP Cricket Club organized its first family event to launch the 2020-21 season with an exhibition Mums &Daughters cricket game.
Mum’s Daughters cricket game participants
BAV celebrates Durga Puja 2020 with online cultural programme
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engali Association of Victoria (BAV), an organization of Indian Bengalis which keeps the Bengali culture alive in Australia by celebrating Bengali festivals like Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja; and by organizing various cultural programmes, sought the virtual platform this year to keep alive the festivities associated with the biggest and most sacred festivals of the Bengali community. On the ninth day of Navratri- the nine-day long festival dedicated to Mother Goddess Durga, members of BAV organized a cultural programme in which a wide array of entertaining performances were presented
“Lockdown Agomoni” by the Srishti school of dance members dance that spread the message of solidarity despite the forced social distancing and a new dawn followed by the dispelling
and “Kajra Mohabbat wala”. The virtual programme culminated with a comical play, “Modern Mahishasur Pala”, in which community members dressed up as mythological characters gave a modern and comical twist to an age-old mythological play.
The virtual programme culminated with a comical play, “Modern Mahishasur Pala” remotely via zoom thus, maintaining the tradition of annual celebrations. The programme commenced with a solo Odissi dance performance paying obeisance to Goddess Durga by the community group member, Ishita Mandal followed by a solo Kathak dance performance by Ramana Bhattacharjee on the song “Pujana chali Mahadeva” expressing how Goddess Parvati practiced asceticism and meditation by living in the mountains in order to win over the affection of Lord Shiva. One of the most noteworthy dance performances was “Lockdown Agomoni” by the members of the Srishti school of
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of darkness, which captured the current global scenario where a wave of optimism is imperative so that people do not lose hope. Another equally delightful dance performance by young community members, which was yet again choreographed by the Srishti school of dance, took everyone down the memory lane of simpler childhood days when Durga Puja celebrations were all about letting one’s hair down and enjoying the festivities. Other performances included a dance performance on an instrumental rendition of one of the songs of the popular Bollywood movie “Dil to Paagal hei” and two couple dances on the foot-tapping yet romantic numbers, “Rangamati”
Solo Odissi dance performance Ishita Mandal
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