From Community Celebration to 5,000-Strong Festival: Cairns Embraces Diwali Mela
What began only two years ago as a new community celebration has quickly found a place on Cairns’ cultural calendar, with more than 5,000 people gathering at Fogarty Park for Cairns Diwali Mela 2026.
Held on Saturday 24 October and presented by Cairns Hindu Samaj Inc. (CHS), the festival transformed the Cairns Esplanade park into an evening of cultural performances, music, food, entertainment and fireworks, bringing together people from across Cairns and beyond to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights.
For organisers, however, the size of the crowd told only part of the story.
One of the clearest signs of the Mela’s growing connection with the wider community came in the months leading up to the event, as businesses, volunteers and community members increasingly approached CHS asking how they could take part.
CHS Secretary Kumi Sharma said that shift in community involvement was particularly encouraging for an event still in its infancy.
“One of the biggest changes we noticed this year was that people were coming to us asking how they could be involved, whether that was sponsoring the event, volunteering, contributing prizes or supporting it in other ways,” Ms Sharma said.
“For an event in only its second year, that was incredibly encouraging. It showed us that people genuinely wanted to be part of it.”
CHS President Chaitali Nayak said sharing Diwali with the broader community had been central to the purpose of the Mela from the beginning.
“Diwali Mela was created not only to celebrate our traditions, but to share them with the whole Cairns community,” Ms Nayak said.
“To see more than 5,000 people from so many different backgrounds celebrating together was incredibly special.”
The growing reach of the festival was also reflected in people travelling from outside Cairns to participate.
Stallholder Renu Sharma travelled from Townsville for the event and said the Mela provided an opportunity to connect with new people and introduce her business to the Cairns community.
“We came from Townsville to be part of the Diwali Mela and had a really positive experience. The event was well organised, and it gave us a great opportunity to meet new people and introduce our business to the Cairns community,” Ms Sharma said.
For those attending, the appeal extended beyond the performances and entertainment.
Attendee Lisa Diggins said the atmosphere reflected the diversity of the Cairns community.
“It was wonderful to see so many people from across Cairns come together to celebrate Diwali,” Ms Diggins said.
“There was such a welcoming atmosphere, and the performances, food and entertainment made it an enjoyable evening for the whole community. Events like this are a great reflection of the diversity we have in Cairns.”
The Mela was officially opened by Terry James MP, who represented Premier David Crisafulli MP and the Hon Fiona Simpson MP at the event.
Reflecting on the celebration afterwards, Mr James highlighted the role events such as Cairns Diwali Mela play in bringing communities together and showcasing the cultures that contribute to Far North Queensland.
“Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths,” Mr James said.
The 2026 Mela received funding through Cairns Regional Council’s Community Partnerships Grant and the Queensland Government’s Celebrating Multicultural Queensland Grant Program, alongside support from local sponsors, businesses, community organisations and volunteers.
For Cairns Hindu Samaj, the response to only the second Cairns Diwali Mela has provided an encouraging foundation for the event’s future, while demonstrating the appetite in Cairns for cultural celebrations that are open to the whole community.
