Indian cultural fair kicked off in Australia

MELBOURNE: One of Australia's largest event showcasing the best of Indian culture has been kicked off in Sydney to mark the 60th Indian Independence Day celebrations
in that country.
    
India-Australia Friendship Fair began yesterday with some of the famous personalities including cricketer Brett Lee, Immigration minister kevin Andrews and New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma attending the opening ceremony.
    
The event, expected to attract around 25,000 visitors, celebrates the Indian Independence day by showcasing the best of Indian culture in Australia, according to the organiser of the event United Indian Associations.
    
The fair, which attracted only 250 people in 1994, has grown manifold to become one of Australia's largest cultural events, next only to the Chinese New Year.
    
The event has been organised by the United India Association (UIA), the apex body representing 18 Indian community organisations in the country.
    
The 100-odd stalls at the fair offer all that one needed to know about Indians in Australia, it said.