19/06/2025
CUMBERLAND COUNCIL RECOGNISES HAZARA CULTURE DAY
Cumberland City Council has voted overwhelmingly to recognise May 19 as Hazara Culture Day to enthusiastic applause from community members.
At Wednesday’s council meeting, Councillors Dr Diane Colman and Glenn Elmore brought a motion that Council “Recognises Hazara Culture Day annually on 19 May and includes Hazara Culture Day in the Council annual cultural program from 2026”.
Cumberland LGA is home to one of the largest Hazara communities in Australia, with around 8,000 residents. The vibrant Hazara-owned restaurants, cafes and shops in the local neighbourhoods have created a thriving community hub, boosting the local economy.
Councillor Colman, a long-standing supporter of the Hazara community, says she brought the motion as it is important to honour the heritage, identity, and resilience of the Hazara people. “This will foster multicultural understanding and cohesion across the Council area and encourage future generations to take pride in their heritage while building bridges with other communities.”
According to Hazara National Heritage Council President, Eda Tegin, “Hazara Culture Day is a day of unity, reflection, and celebration of Hazara heritage. It involves cultural performances, traditional foods, art, history, and discussions on the preservation of identity in the diaspora.” She extends her “profound and heartfelt gratitude for the invaluable support in advancing the motion.” Colman says supporting the HNHC’s request was important as “It is a day to honour not just the traditions of the past, but the enduring spirit that has carried the Hazara people forward and brought them here to our local area. Recognizing and celebrating Hazara Culture Day provides an opportunity to promote cultural awareness, inclusivity, and unity among all residents of Cumberland.”
For Tegin, this move “sends a strong message of solidarity with a group that has historically faced persecution, and now thrives and contributes meaningfully within the Cumberland LGA.” Following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, the observance of this day by the global Hazara diaspora becomes a powerful act of resistance and cultural preservation. It affirms that Hazara identity and heritage endure - vibrant and uninterrupted.
Celebrating culture is an integral part of civic life in Cumberland, a way that traditions are kept alive across the diaspora of many different communities. Hazara culture is filled with hope, human dignity, justice, and a yearning for peace, which makes it a perfect fit for Cumberland Council’s cultural program. Together, Council and the local Hazara community will be working to create a memorable and meaningful cultural program that celebrates the richness of Hazara culture. This cultural program is a wonderful opportunity for the Cumberland community to experience the unique heritage, creativity and courage of their Hazara neighbours in an inclusive and welcoming environment.
