On 5 October, Arthur Wren Hall in Hampton Park will be bright with saris and jewellery, alive with the smell of spiced food, and busy with stalls run by small entrepreneurs at a Diwali market where the light of many small hopes will be gathered.
Held for the second year, the event was founded by Chanchal Kumavat, who leads Saathi MAA (Multicultural Association of Australia). Her purpose reaches beyond festival celebrations. It is practical: to provide a foundation for people who need to earn a living.
The idea began when Kumavat saw a specific need. “When we saw single moms and dads are there and when they come out of their unfortunate situation they need to earn extra money to gain some financial independence.” Her response was not just to offer sympathy, but to create a way forward.
At first, she and her group helped people start small businesses from their homes by providing basic guidance. This included information on council requirements, the necessary permissions, and the kind of insurance needed. “We are giving them the foundation of their entrepreneurship to start from their home,” says Kumavat.
Her efforts began modestly in 2019, when she requested space for a few stalls at community events. Then came the pandemic. “Things were not the same after COVID. So we helped them sell their products online. We spread the word and helped promote them. They started earning a little bit during the lockdown as well.”
Later, Saathi MAA arranged for stalls in corporate buildings. But the need was greater than the opportunities available. “We are helping only single moms and dads,” Kumavat says. “These are small entrepreneurs running things from their house and struggling so much for the stalls, and we can’t afford it.”
Last year, the Diwali market at the same venue hosted thirty-three vendors. This year, there will be thirty-four. For single parents and others facing hardship, stalls are free. For others, the charge is very small. Priority is given to first-time stallholders, says Kumavat.
The market is structured on the idea of a traditional bazaar. Visitors will find jewellery, clothing, saris from different states of India, perfumes, and toys depicting figures such as Hanuman, Ram, Lakshman, and Lakshmi. There will also be food stalls, a children’s corner with face painting, and information stands offering free financial and business guidance.
Importantly, the event is not limited to Indian participants. Stallholders come from Sri Lankan, Nepali, Cambodian, Afghan, and Pakistani backgrounds, creating what Kumavat describes as “all multicultural people under one roof.”
She sees this unity as central to the market. “All the entrepreneurs will hold their hands until we flourish,” she said.
For Kumavat, the project reflects what Diwali itself means. “Diwali is the purest form of giving light,” she said. “It is on Amavasya, the darkest day (the New Moon Day in the Hindu calendar, when the Moon is not visible from Earth), and the hope is coming with the light.” She sees Saathi MAA as an extension of this principle, giving hope to people who are trying to find light in their lives.
The Diwali Mela will run at Arthur Wren Hall, Stuart Avenue, Hampton Park, on 5 October.
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