The Parliament of NSW is Australia's first and oldest Parliament and a site of great heritage significance. The precinct includes the oldest building surviving in the Sydney CBD.
On 30 October 2013, for the first time in the history of Australia, Deepavali festivities were held at Parliament House of NSW. They included a magnificent four-tier annakut display set up by volunteers of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Rosehill, Sydney.
BAPS volunteers recited the Vedic Shantipaath (Prayers for Universal Peace) to begin the festivities.
The Premier of NSW Hon. Barry O’Farrell, Chairman of the Community Relations Commission of NSW Dr Stepan Karkyasharian, Minister for Communities and Multicultural Affairs Hon. Victor Dominello and Member of Parliament for Parramatta Dr Geoff Lee were among the visitors who attended. They were all delighted to see the decorative display of vegetarian delicacies.