Sydney’s Nepalese community came together in a powerful celebration of culture, connection and resilience as Teej Mahotsav 2026 transformed Burwood Park into a vibrant showcase of Nepalese music, dance and tradition.
Organised by the Nepalese Hindu Society of Australia, the festival attracted thousands of people from the Nepalese and wider Australian communities on 14 September.
While the event celebrated the cultural and spiritual significance of Teej, this year’s gathering also carried a deeper sense of solidarity as many Nepalese families continued to deal with the pain and uncertainty surrounding recent events in Nepal.
The festival was attended by NSW Premier Chris Minns, Member for Strathfield Jason Yat-Sen Li, Burwood Mayor John Faker, Councillor Sukirti Bhatta, Burwood Police Area Commander Superintendent Christine McDonald, Constable Neharika Basnet, community leaders, sponsors and representatives of the Nepalese community.
Premier Minns said attending the festival was an important opportunity to stand with the community during a deeply difficult period.
“I wanted to be at the Teej Festival to show my solidarity with the Nepalese community after the tragedy that has unfolded in Nepal,” Mr Minns said.
“There are families here in NSW enduring an agonising wait for news of loved ones, and our thoughts and prayers are with them.
“The Nepalese community has stood together through an incredibly painful time, and New South Wales stands with them.
“But despite the heartbreak of recent weeks, the festival was also a chance to celebrate the strength, culture and contribution of the Nepalese community to New South Wales.”
Teej is a significant festival centred on faith, family, cultural tradition and the strength of women. In Australia, it also provides an important opportunity for Nepalese families to maintain their cultural connections and pass their traditions to younger generations.
Mr Li said the gathering reflected both the resilience of the Nepalese community and the strength of multicultural Australia.
“Teej is a deeply meaningful celebration of faith, renewal, family and the strength of women,” Mr Li said.
“For the local Nepalese Australian community, it is a chance to come together across generations to pray, sing, dance, share tradition and pass culture on to children growing up here in New South Wales.
“This gathering showed the very best of multicultural Australia: a community coming together not just to remember where it comes from, but to tell Australia who it is.
“At a time when many Nepalese families are carrying the grief of recent events in Nepal, Teej reminds us that family and community mean we do not carry our burdens alone.
“Nepal is home to the highest peak in the world, and I know the Nepalese people will rise again with the same strength, dignity and resilience that has always defined them.”
Burwood Mayor John Faker said the festival demonstrated the important role cultural celebrations play in bringing the wider community together.
“It was wonderful to see Burwood Park come alive with the colour, music and spirit of Teej as our Nepalese-Australian community gathered to celebrate this deeply significant festival and share their culture with the wider community,” Mayor Faker said.
“Celebrations like Teej reflect the very best of Burwood: our diversity, strong community spirit and the pride people take in their heritage.
“Council is proud to support events that bring people together and showcase the many cultures that shape our area.”
For Burwood Councillor Sukirti Bhatta, the occasion carried a particularly personal meaning.
“Teej holds a special place in my heart as someone of Nepali heritage, and seeing it celebrated so vibrantly in Burwood is deeply personal and meaningful,” Cr Bhatta said.
“It connects me to my culture, my family, and the journey that brought our community here.
“This year, while Nepal was facing such hardships, seeing the Nepali community turn celebration into solidarity was particularly moving. It shows that even though we are thousands of kilometres from Nepal, the connections remain strong.”
The program featured Nepalese artist Barsha Raut alongside musicians, dancers, DJs, community performers and emerging young talent.
Event Coordinator Usha Kiran Bariya, who also serves as NSW State Coordinator of NRNA Australia, said the festival’s continued growth reflected the unity and support of the community.
“Teej Mahotsav is very close to my heart. What began as a vision in 2019 has continued to grow year after year,” Ms Bariya said.
“Seeing thousands of people come together to celebrate our culture, enjoy our music and performances, and create memories with their families makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
Ms Bariya said Teej was not only about preserving tradition but also about strengthening friendships, families and cultural belonging.
“Living away from Nepal, these celebrations give us an opportunity to pass our culture and traditions on to our children while creating a sense of belonging here in Australia,” she said.
She acknowledged the support of Burwood Council, NSW Police, the Nepalese Hindu Society of Australia, NRNA Australia, the organising committee, performers, sponsors, media partners, volunteers and members of the wider community.
The festival was supported by title sponsor Raycorp, together with event sponsors, business partners and community organisations.
“An event of this scale is never the work of one person or one organisation. It is created by a community that believes in coming together,” Ms Bariya said.
“Every contribution, whether big or small, helped make Teej Mahotsav another grand celebration for our community.”
Reflecting on the event’s development since 2019, Ms Bariya said Teej Mahotsav had become increasingly meaningful to her and the wider community.
“This is still only the beginning. We will continue working to make Teej Mahotsav even more memorable and meaningful for our community,” she said.
“With that promise, we look forward to welcoming everyone again next year.”
