To spread the festive Bengali autumn spirit abroad, the 'Abha Mahalaya and Fair 2026' was organized in Sydney. Hosted by the Australian Bengali Hindu Association (ABHA), the event took place on October 10 at Marayong South Public School in Blacktown. Running from afternoon until 9 PM, the program was conducted by Dr. Aparna Goswami.
The fair featured all-day activities including dance, music, a fashion show, face painting for children, and complimentary 'alta' for women. The festive mood intensified with the vibrant dhol and tasha performance by 'Shiva Garjana Sydney'. At 5 PM, a special Mahalaya program was presented under the leadership of Kakoli Mukherjee, featuring dance performances by Ankita Sinha Roy, Moumita Chowdhury, Rituparna Dhar, Amrita Paul, Priyanshi, Shreyasi, and Moumita Patel.
Blacktown City Council Councillor and Liberal Party candidate for Riverstone Mohit Kumar, along with Hindu Council of Australia National President Sai Paravastu, attended the event as guests and were honored in the evening. Acknowledging the contributions of the stall operators, the organizers presented each of them with a certificate of appreciation and a scented candle.
Following the evening cultural segment of dance and musical performances, a fashion show was held at 8:45 PM. At the conclusion of the event, the audience was invited to attend ABHA's autumn festival on October 17.
The fair was realized with sponsorship from Aje Dream Built (Platinum), Advance Medical Practice (Gold), Phoroner Golpo (Silver and Food Partner), and Electrifying Australia (Bronze). The event was organized under the overall supervision of ABHA President Samir Sarkar and Secretary Debabrata Bikash Saha. Samir Sarkar stated that cultural events abroad increase familiarity and harmony among community members while introducing the new generation to Bengali heritage, and the organization continues to pursue various initiatives toward this goal.
