Category Indigenous

Joining the dots

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Anangu Aboriginal artist Sarah Dalby. Photo Credit: © Neena Bhandari

By Neena Bhandari

The colours and lines of Aboriginal art in Australia’s outback take the author back to the deserts of her birthplace in Rajasthan.

Uluru (Australia), 15 October 2016 (The Hindu): In the grainy red sand, Anangu Aboriginal artist Sarah Dalby, 42, glides her fingers to draw a collection of symbols to demonstrate how the Aborigines have been passing knowledge about their land, culture and traditions from one generation to the next. It is a warm spring afternoon in Yulara, the resort town in Australia’s Red Centre desert, and I am in the town square for a 90-minute Maruku Arts dot painting workshop.

Dalby draws concentric circles, linking them with lines to depict a journey from one place to another. She then etches crescent-like shapes, representing men and women squatting on the ground, and envelopes them with more symbols that embody desert flora and fauna. Continue reading →

In Australia’s spiritual heart – Uluru

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The red sand is imprinted with footprints, erased and reinscribed by new visitors each day, perhaps signifying the ephemeral nature of life and the resilience of the Aborigines who have survived through eons. Photo Credit: Neena Bhandari

By Neena Bhandari

Uluru, 05.09.2016 (Outlook India): Australia conjures images of sea and surf, but it is in the sun and sand of its Red Centre desert that I discover the country’s spiritual heart. Uluru [Ayers Rock] along with Kata Tjuta [The Olgas] have been part of the traditional belief system of Australia’s first people. The ochre-tinted inselberg stands tall in the vast arid landscape, linking the country’s indigenous Aboriginal past to our present and the future.

As the plane begins its descent to the Connellan Airport, a glimpse of Uluru’s famous silhouette evokes a sense of awe. The winter sun on the tarmac is comforting as unhurried passengers make their way into the small airport to a pleasant `Palya’ or welcome. A relief from the intense security screenings one has to endure at most airports in our post 9/11 world.

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South Australia’s History Festival will celebrate the past, present and future

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Kaurna people are the traditional custodians of the Adelaide region. Photo Credit: © Neena Bhandari

By Neena Bhandari

Autumn in South Australia conjures of bright sunny days and balmy nights with festivals galore.

Come May, venues across the state come alive with South Australia’s History Festival. It offers locals and visitors the opportunity to discover and celebrate the state’s distinct history from Aboriginal times to a free-settled society and a present day vibrant destination.

Organised by History SA, the festival offers more than 500 events. “One can attend talks in pubs, churches, schools and even graveyards; explore topics as diverse as fashion, food and farming; enjoy film screenings, music and dance performances; or indulge in archaeological digs. There is something for all ages”, says Allison Russell, History SA’s Senior Curator for Community Engagement.

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