As part of our Harmony Week celebrations, we take a closer look at some of the cultures that make up our Monash Health community. We are proud to have employees from over 140 countries.
The top five overseas countries represented by our employees are:
- India
- Philippines
- China
- Sri Lanka
- England
Today we look at two celebrations from cultures represented by many of our employees.
Diwali – the festival of lights
With India topping our overseas employee list, we look at Diwali, an annual festival that originated in India that is celebrated by the Hindu, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains.
Diwali lights
Also known as “the festival of lights”, Diwali is celebrated around October or November, with the exact date determined by the phases of the moon each year.
The five-day festival celebrates the triumph of lightness over dark, or good over evil, with each day observing a different mythological story. Peak Diwali celebrations occur on day three.
Indian households celebrate by lighting small lamps called diyas, and the streets and buildings are decorated with lights. Song and dance in the streets, along with dazzling displays of fireworks, aim to ward off evil spirits – a display of good winning over evil.
Like many festivals, food has a strong presence during Diwali. “Mithai”, sweet Indian treats, are prepared and gifted among family, friends and neighbours.
Sinhalese New Year
Lighting of the hearth
We have 252 Sri Lankan employees at Monash Health, with the Sri Lankan population largely made up of the Sinhalese. The Sinhala New Year celebrations usually fall on April 13 and 14, symbolising the ending of the old year and the beginning of the new year.
To prepare for the new year, it is customary to spend time restoring physical surroundings. Households are repainted, floors are buffed and kitchens are cleaned. Old clothes and unwanted items are thrown away, marking a new beginning in a material sense.
The “Lighting of the Hearth” custom involves the woman of the household lighting the hearth and boiling milk in an earthen pot over the flames. The milk is allowed to boil over, symbolising prosperity. A traditional new year rice pudding dish “Kiribath” is then prepared.
Following the meal, a “Blessing of the Elders” takes place, where children will offer sheaves of betel to the elders to show respect. The elders will return the blessing with money, marking the first financial transaction for the new year.
More information about Harmony Week can be found on the Harmony Week website.
Approved by Karen Lowe