Steve Whan
Member for Monaro

MEDIA RELEASE

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council receives funding to celebrate cultural diversity and boost the local economy

Tuesday, 11 March 2025

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) will receive $53,500 for the Diwali-Mela Lantern Festival through the Stronger Together Local Council Major Festival program to celebrate the vibrant cultural diversity of the area while also driving economic growth.

"The Diwali-Mela Lantern Festival has been a hit in our community each year and brings people from across the region as well as Canberra to Queanbeyan," Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, said.

"How wonderful, that a festival about the triumph of light over darkness, of good over evil, should be given a funding boost. Across Monaro and wider Australia, it's important we celebrate the strength that diversity brings to our democracy.

"I'm very pleased about this funding boost and can't wait to attend what will hopefully be the biggest festival yet in 2025."

Queanbeyan Diwali-Mela Lantern Festival 2025 will be a free and inclusive family-focused celebration showcasing the cultural aspects of communities that celebrate Diwali to the wider Queanbeyan and regional community.

The event will include cultural performances from Indian, Nepali, Punjabi, and Tamil groups. Performances will range from the traditional to the contemporary and will include interactive Bollywood dance workshops. The focal point of the festival will be a lantern parade; participants can attend free lantern-making workshops and then join the lantern parade.