Light, Colour and Connection — A Diwali Celebration with the Multicultural Services Centre in Perth

This site is written mainly in English. If you prefer Japanese, please use your browser’s translation feature. 日本語で読みたい方はブラウザーの翻訳機能をお試しください。（要約は最後に載っています）

✨ Introduction

At Zen Art Therapy Perth, I often collaborate with multicultural and not-for-profit (NFP) organisations to promote community wellbeing and emotional connection through mindfulness and creative expression.
One of those valued partners is the Multicultural Services Centre (MSC) — a wonderful NFP in Perth that supports culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities.
This October, I was invited to join their Diwali Celebration, also known as the Festival of Light, and it turned out to be a heart-warming experience full of colour, joy, and shared humanity.

🪔 The Celebration

The atmosphere at MSC’s Diwali event was alive with music, dance, and laughter.
As someone who often provides Mindfulness Art Therapy workshops, mental health consultations, and wellbeing sessions for CaLD women through this organisation, it felt like celebrating with long-time friends.
Many of the staff and community members are now familiar faces, and their warmth always makes me feel at home.

Since I don’t own a sari, I decided to improvise — wearing a fitted dress with leggings underneath and wrapping a large, lightweight shawl in a sari-like style, fastened with a golden brooch that had been sitting unused in my drawer.
To my delight, several Indian women complimented the idea, one even saying, “Yumi, that’s such a great idea — I might wear mine like this next time for a casual event!”
Two lovely ladies, who will soon return to India, even decorated me with a red bindi and fresh flowers for my hair.

It was a beautiful reminder that connection is not about perfection or appearance — it’s about openness, respect, and shared joy.
The ceremony was followed by delicious home-cooked dishes, lovingly prepared and shared by staff and guests, and of course, lots of dancing.
The stick dance I had learned last year made a reappearance — and this time, I danced until I was slightly out of breath, laughing the whole time.

🌼 Reflection

For me, Diwali symbolises not only light over darkness but also the illumination that comes from community belonging.
As a Zen Art Therapist and mindfulness facilitator, I see these cultural gatherings as living examples of artful connection — where creativity, tradition, and human warmth naturally nurture mental wellbeing.

Every time I attend such an event, I’m reminded that wellbeing grows strongest where people feel seen, included, and celebrated — no matter their background or story.
I’m deeply grateful to the Multicultural Services Centre for their ongoing collaboration and for the light they bring into our diverse community.

🌟 Closing note

This experience reminded me how important cross-cultural understanding and creativity are in community wellbeing — something I continue to share through Zen Art Therapy projects with local NFPs and organisations.

日本語要約：
このブログでは、パースのマルチカルチャーサービスセンターで行われたディワリ（光のお祭り）の様子を紹介しています。
私はこの団体で、カルチャーや言語の異なる女性たちを中心にマインドフルネスアートセラピーやメンタルヘルスのサポートを行っています。
お祭りでは、文化の違いを越えて笑顔や温かい交流が生まれ、改めて「つながり」の大切さを感じました。
光や色、人の優しさが心を照らす時間でした。

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