While Victoria may not be in monsoon season, it is that time of year when the Punjabi community, in particular, reflects on a joyful celebration: the festival of Teeyan.
Teeyan is traditionally celebrated in Punjab, India, during the monsoon onset when married women return to their maternal homes for the festivities. Historically, women would spend the entire month of Sawan with their parents.
“This is a festival for women. In the past, married women couldn’t visit their parents’ house at will,” explains Rosie Dhaliwal, a Whittlesea resident. She adds with a laugh, “Though the festival continues, today women can visit their parents’ house anytime.”
Dhaliwal, who migrated to Australia in 2005, co-founded the Multicultural Festival Group in 2017 and has since been organising Teeyan along with other women-focused festivals.
She launched her first Teeyan festival in 2017 at the Galada Community Centre in Epping to support women working from home, helping them showcase their talents and gain community visibility.
Since then, her not-for-profit organisation has hosted the festival annually, with the exception of the Covid break. This year, it will be held at the Epping Memorial Community Hall in Whittlesea on 4 August.
“Mainly, we keep it small because Teeyan is a Punjabi event with activities rooted in Punjabi culture. There will be dance and sangeet performances featuring kids, teenagers, and adults, including gidda, bhangra, and other Punjabi folk dances. We also have interactive sessions to engage the audience with questions about traditional knowledge and customs,” shares Dhaliwal.
The festival includes food stalls, cultural clothing, jooti (traditional shoes), and henna (temporary tattoos). Attendees can explore traditional aspects of the culture, such as tikka and older jewellery, and see the stage decorated with traditional items. As Dhaliwal explains, “I have two daughters, and this event helps them learn and connect with our culture.”
To nurture community engagement, the festival features activities appealing to various age groups. Recognising the presence of many older women, the event provides opportunities for them to share their knowledge and answer questions that younger participants may not know.
The festival’s highlight is the “Teeyan Di Rani” competition, where ten women aged 18 and over compete in three rounds. Contestants are judged on their attire, cultural knowledge, talent, and confidence. The festival often includes a chief guest and typically hosts two Members of Parliament.
Many Teeyan festivals are organised in Melbourne—up to 20, it is believed—but this one is unique for its free entry, as it is a not-for-profit event.
“We don’t charge for entry or participation. While most festivals use a ticketing system, we don’t. Although we are based in the north, registrations show that people come from all over, from the west and east, to participate, set up stalls, and perform,” says Dhaliwal.
“The first time we had around 200 attendees; now we have over 800 registrations. It’s a free event, so people come freely. Ours is one of the largest events,” she adds. “It starts at 12 p.m. and finishes around 6 p.m.”
Having always worked with the community and currently serving as a Local Area Coordinator for NDIS with the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Dhaliwal finds her work aligns well with her passion.
“That’s essentially what I do—engage with people, connect them with the community and mainstream services, and help them find the support they need.
“The joy is in organising the event and providing women with a space to express themselves and enjoy the festival. We understand how women from diverse backgrounds feel at certain points, and events like this offer them an opportunity to connect with their culture and community,” she says.
The festival’s impact on the community is evident in the increased awareness and participation. In 2017, there were only a few gidda and bhangra (folk dance) classes, but now numerous dance schools have opened as children express a desire to learn and perform at these events, she notes,
“The influence on the younger generation is significant, as many not only participate but also volunteer, contributing to the festival’s success and their own cultural engagement.”
Although Teeyan is a traditional Punjabi festival, it is open to everyone and holds significant multicultural importance, especially in the City of Whittlesea, where the Indian community is expanding.
With residents exposed to various cultures, including Greek and Chinese, many believe that events like these offer opportunities to learn about different traditions, build friendships, and strengthen community bonds.
And for some, a sense of nostalgia lingers. Rinks Kandra, a resident of Pakenham, shares, “The festival reminds me of the joyous celebrations back home as we welcomed the monsoon after a long summer. The diverse colors that ladies wear on the day and the food that we share are symbolic of the vibrance in our rich Indian and Punjabi cultures.”
The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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