Celebrating Victoria's Sikh Communities

The Allan Labor Government is supporting Victoria’s Sikh communities with the renaming of a landmark in honour of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and funding for Langar events in the lead up to celebrations for the Sikh faith founder’s 555th birth anniversary.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt today announced $600,000 in funding for Langar Celebration events across Victoria and that a lake in Berwick Springs will now be known as the Guru Nanak Lake.

Each year, Sikh communities across the world celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Guru and founder of the Sikh faith. Sikh communities respect Guru Nanak for his immense contributions to humanity, including the tradition of Langar.

Langar is the tradition of people sharing a free communal meal, regardless of their gender, class, nationality, or faith. All Langar events welcome the Sikh and broader Victorian community to attend.

Organisations hosting Langar Celebrations include Sikh Volunteers Australia in Casey, Gurudwara Sri Guru Granth Sahib in Greater Dandenong, and the Ballarat Sikh Community and Mildura Sikh Community in regional Victoria.

Victoria is home to Australia’s largest Sikh community, with more than 91,000 Sikh Victorians recorded in the 2021 Census.

Part of the Labor Government’s work ensuring place names reflect Victoria's rich diversity and history, the renaming of the lake follows consultation with key Sikh community leaders and traditional owners and will celebrate Victoria’s Sikh community who have made and continue to make important contributions to our richly diverse state.

Victorians are encouraged to nominate exceptional individuals from underrepresented groups – including women, First Peoples, and multicultural communities – to be honoured through place names. The ‘Name a Place’ campaign is open until 16 December, to make a nomination fill out the naming survey at engage.vic.gov.au/name-a-place.

For more information on Langar Celebration events, visit vic.gov.au/langar.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt

“I’m delighted to be recognising the significant contributions of our Sikh community in Victoria by naming a landmark after the founder of the Sikh faith, Guru Nanak.”

“In the coming months, Sikh Victorians and the broader community can celebrate, commemorate and learn more about this important figure and Langar. We are proud to support the celebrations and I encourage everyone to find an event in your local area.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny

“This name is another way we’re ensuring Victoria’s place names better reflect and celebrate our state’s rich diversity and history.”

Quote attributable to Member for Narre Warren South Gary Maas

“Berwick Springs is a beautiful location for this mark of our celebration of Victoria’s Sikh communities.”