24 July 2023 : From authentic spices and the best butter chicken, chaat and jalebi through to beautiful sarees and exciting Bollywood-style Street performances, Harris Park has it all.
A group of dedicated locals in New South Wales are celebrating everything Southeast Asian cultures have to offer and are inviting the wider community to join them.
Harris Park is set to become Sydney’s epicenter of Indian food, fashion and music thanks the Little India Harris Park Business Association (LIHPBA) who are wanting to create “the jewel of India, outside of India” with support from the NSW Government.
The Little India Harris Park Business Association’s vision for Harris Park is just one of 21 new projects supported by the Uptown program under the Office of the 24-Hour Economy with $198,000 dedicated to this idea. The Uptown program was brought in to encourage local businesses to collaborate and build a self-sustainable cultural district for everyone to enjoy.
Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy John Graham said:
“The Little India Harris Park Business Association will use the Uptown grant to bring their vision of positioning Harris Park as “the jewel of India, outside India” to life.”
“The Harris Park district team will create a coordinated program of events and activities, including festive street lighting, traditional music performances, arts and crafts stalls, food stalls and Bollywood-style performances, to bring even more brightness and vibrancy to Harris Park while celebrating Indian culture,”
“The Uptown projects kicking off across Greater Sydney highlight the diverse and exciting opportunities available for locals, visitors, and tourists alike. It’s a chance for these districts to not only bring in more visitors but to enhance their reputation on the global stage.”
Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:
“’Little India’ is at the heart of Parramatta’s nightlife and this Uptown grant will help ‘Little India’ achieve the national and international attention it deserves.”
“Prime Minister Modi’s personal acknowledgement of ‘Little India’ demonstrates this cultural precinct has become a destination in its’ own right, that provides an exciting, authentic Indian experience all Sydneysiders can enjoy close to home.”
NSW 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said:
“The Harris Park project was just one of the great district visions for Sydney to come out of the Uptown program this year.”
“Uptown will help these districts to deliver brilliant night-time experiences that will enhance greater Sydney’s rich social fabric and bring more visitors to these great locations.”
Little India Harris Park Business Association President Sanjay Deshwal said: “Wigram Street, Harris Park was already on its way to becoming Sydney’s heart of Indian culture.”
“Fresh from hosting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, we’re on a mission to share the best of Southeast Asian culture with as many people as we can, from tourists and locals through to international stars,” “We want to put Harris Park firmly on the map when you’re looking for the best of India in Sydney, with activity that also celebrates the cultural and artistic richness of our Southeast Asian neighbours including Sri Lankan, Afghani, Pakistani, African, Lebanese and Nepalese communities among others.”
