Australian PM Albanese visits temple and gurdwara to celebrate Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas

Canberra: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday visited a temple and a gurdwara to celebrate the festivals of Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas.

The 61-year-old leader took to X to share photos of himself as he donned an orange turban and visited a gurdwara in Glenwood in the suburbs of Sydney. Albanese also opened the newly expanded kitchen in the gurdwara.

“Happy Bandi Chhor Divas! Wonderful to celebrate at Gurdwara Sahib Glenwood today and open the newly expanded kitchen, serving thousands of people every week,” Albanese wrote on X.

The photos showed the Australian prime minister smiling as he posed with the community members and also clicking a selfie with devotees.

The Bandi Chhor Divas marks the commemoration of the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind’s release from the Gwalior Fort during Mughal emperor Jahangir’s reign.

Albanese visited Sydney’s Murugan Temple where he celebrated Diwali with the Tamil Australian community.

“Deepavali celebrates the victory of light over darkness. Fantastic to join with the Tamil Australian community at the Sydney Murugan Temple today. The temple draws in people from all walks of life every day, and has become a sanctuary for Western Sydney's South Asian Hindu community,” Albanese posted on X.

Earlier, the Australian prime minister wished “a happy Festival of Lights to all those celebrating over the coming days”.

“This annual festival of joy, hope and togetherness is an extraordinarily beautiful celebration of faith and culture - one embraced by Australia's diverse and vibrant society,” he wrote in a press release shared on X.

“With its celebration of the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance, it affirms the ideals that inspire Australians from all walks of life. The rituals and traditions of Diwali are in every way an expression of community, culture and heritage. It's a moment to enjoy the company of loved ones, and to reflect on the shared inheritance of centuries of tradition,” Albanese said.