SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised the contribution of the Nepali community to Australia and commended its cultural diversity.
Albanese made the remarks while attending the Nepal Festival organised by the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Australia. It was his first participation in the festival.
He was welcomed with a Nepali Dhaka topi and a traditional khada. Addressing the gathering, Albanese described Australia as a multicultural country and said the Nepali community had made an important contribution to the country’s overall development.
The NRNA Australia has been organising the Nepal Festival for the past two decades to promote Nepali art, culture and tourism. Attending the event for the first time, Albanese extended Tihar greetings to everyone present.
During his address, he also mentioned Nepali security personnel Bikash Bharati, who was recently honoured for carrying out his duties bravely.
Albanese expressed condolences to those who lost their lives in the floods and landslides that struck Nepal in August. He also conveyed Australia’s support for relief and reconstruction efforts.
The event marked the first time an Australian prime minister had personally attended a programme organised by the Nepali community. Following the festival, Albanese posted on social media that he had celebrated Tihar with the Nepali community.
Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales, also attended the event and praised Nepali art and culture.
The Nepal Festival was held on Saturday at Darling Harbour, a popular tourist destination in Sydney. Organisers said thousands of people attended.
The festival opened with a Nepal Parade showcasing traditional Nepali attire and culture. Stalls featuring Nepali food and businesses were also set up. The event attracted a significant number of visitors from the local community, alongside Nepalis.
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