Guru Poornima is a full moon festival observed by Hindu, Buddhist and Jain communities, taking place on the full moon, normally falling in July each year.
On Saturday, 20 July, the Sai Baba Palki Festival will be celebrated at Virginia State School with cultural displays, children’s entertainment and free dinner for all attendees.
The word ‘Guru’ refers to spiritual teachers who provide guidance in life and the word ‘Poornima’ means moon. In combination, the festival celebrates and honours spiritual teachers on the full moon.
One of the organisers, Marina Chand, said in the Hindu tradition, spiritual teachers were very important as they helped people to see and understand the spiritual significance of creation, the natural world and themselves.
“We celebrate Guru Poornima as our community are followers of a Sufi Saint called Shirdi Sai Baba who lived in India from 1835 to 1918,” she said. “He is our spiritual teacher and therefore we honour him and his amazing teachings on this day.”
The festival will observe many Hindu traditions but has people from many faiths in attendance, including Christianity and Sikhism.
“This festival will display Indian cultural traditions via dance, song, music, costumes, food and hospitality,” Marina said. “However, because people from different cultural backgrounds and faiths honour the teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba, they also attend and participate.”
Following a magic and puppet show for the kids, the festival moves outdoors and the grand procession will begin with dancers, drumming and chanting, with a statue of Shirdi Sai Baba sitting in a palanquin carried in as part of the procession.
“After the procession enters the hall, some short prayers are conducted and the cultural entertainment starts,” Marina said.
Music, play and more
The cultural show will include traditional Indian dance, qawwali live music, a short skit performed by children in the community and even Bollywood dancing.
“We provide free food and drinks because Shirdi Sai Baba used to emphasise giving in charity and feeding others, including animals: ‘The creatures may be different, but the hunger of all is the same,’” Marina said, quoting a popular Shirdi Sai Baba quote.
The organisers of the event are a spiritual community residing on the northside of Brisbane who come together weekly at the Virginia State School.
“We come from different cultural backgrounds and countries, predominantly Indian and Hindu but also Fijian Indian, South African, Australian, Nepalese, Sri Lankan and European,” Marina said.
Marina encouraged people from all faiths to attend the free event to enjoy the entertainment, free food and to learn more about other cultures.
“Exposing our children to different cultures and traditions promotes understanding and social cohesion, which ultimately benefits everyone,” she said.
For more information and to register your attendance, visit www.trybooking.com/CQQNO
Sai Baba Palki Festival – Guru Poornima 2024
- Saturday, 20 July, 4.30pm-9pm
- Virginia State School
- 1678 Sandgate Road, Virginia.
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