Dance, Discuss, Diversity at Safal Festival: South Asia and Australia

FEM

Key Facts:

Celebrate South Asian cultures in Australia

SAFAL FEST

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Dance, Discuss, Diversity at Safal Festival: South Asia and Australia

Sunday 3rd May 10 am to 8 p.m.

Safal Festival is a unique platform showcasing diverse South Asian cultures in Australia. The SAFAL Festival celebrates diverse arts, culture, languages and literature of the dynamic South Asian region of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Australia.

The Founder and President of the SAFAL Festival Ash Gholkar brings his passion for diversity and inclusion to the festival inviting everyone to attend the art exhibitions & hands-on workshops; literature & book fair; short film screenings in the main theatre; live song & dance concert; bazaar; trade stalls & cultural displays. Join interactive sessions including creative writing, craft making, painting, doll making, Japanese stitching Sashiko, patchwork for all ages.

Ash Gholkar President, Kedar Pagaddinnimath Festival Chairperson and Saliya Tennekoon Festival Director lead the team inviting everyone of all ages to celebrate at this free and fabulous festival.

Ash Gholkar has a special interest in anthologies that showcase multi-cultural Australia. He has invited Dr Rekha Rajvanshi an award-winning bilingual author and poet who has spent over two decades building literary bridges between India and Australia to present. She is the Founder and President of Indian Literary & Art Society of Australia (ILASA) established in 2011 to preserve and promote Indian literature and art, inspire younger generations, and strengthen cultural ties between India and Australia. Through her work, she fosters meaningful dialogue and celebrates cultural diversity across communities. She will also host a dynamic literary panel to discuss her ground-breaking anthology of Australian authors writing about Australia for an Indian and South East Asian audience.

Literary speakers include author and journalist Anu Shivaram, Dr Sharon Rundle publisher, editor and author, and Susanne Gervay OAM who explores inclusion. Her recent young novel Parrot Palace she worked with Bangladeshi-Australian illustrator Sarah Tabassum and Indian-Australia librarian Pooja Mathur to reach young people to value different cultures.

Her timeless Elephants Have Wings written by Susanne Gervay OAM and illustrated by Anna Pignataro will be highlighted at Safal Festival.

📅 Date: Sunday, 3rd May 2026
📍 Venue: Castle Grand Community Hall (Pioneer Theatre)
1/14 Pennant Street, Castle Hill, NSW 2154
🕥 Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Literature Sessions, Book Fair, Exhibitions, Workshop, Bazaar and more.