The flag-raising ceremony on Wednesday, August 15, attended by about 35 people and members of the local Indian community, was performed by City of Ballarat Deputy Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney outside the Town Hall in Queen Victoria Square.

Ms Narsi said she was overcome with “joy, pride and respect” listening to her Indian community sing the national anthem and that it was “very special” to see the flag fly “in an adopted country that we call home.”

The flag-raising ceremony to honour India’s Independence Day has been celebrated in Ballarat for 10 years.

Ms Narsi said it was an opportunity for the increasing number of Indian families and students now living in Ballarat, to mingle over morning tea.

The Ballarat Indian Association was established in 2007 and has about 200 members. 

There are now almost 1000 people, from many of India’s states and provinces, living in the city.

Ms Narsi said the main aim for Ballarat’s Indian community was “unity.”

“We want to bring all parts of the Indian community together and try to celebrate all our major events together,” she said.

“Although we call Australia home, it is still a day worth remembering. On such occasions, we realise our feelings for the land of our birth are just as strong and special.”

Ms Narsi said they had found Ballarat very accepting of new cultures.

She said there was “always work to be done” but they were working on getting people to work together.

She said the biggest difference between when she came to Ballarat in 1998, and today was the amount of help available for migrants and newcomers.

“When I came, I looked around and there were no other Indian faces and no help available but now there is far more help available to help people settle in,” she said.

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