The Punjab harvest festival, April 14, has religious significance for Sikhism and it is also a traditional Hindu New Year for many states across the country.

The Queanbeyan Multicultural Centre’s Sethu Kannan organised the lunch to bring members of the Indian community together to celebrate the holiday with food, music and dance.

“For the farmers in Punjab it is a thanks giving day for them, when they give thanks to god for the bountiful harvest they received that year,” Ms Kannan said.

She said the rich multiculturalism of Queanbeyan made the city welcoming for people of all backgrounds.

“When I came it was a bit hard for me to find friends, but through the multicultural centre it changed,” Ms Kannan said.

“I now have friends from Iran, Egypt and many different countries.”

“We have come far away from our mother countries and families so to have social relationships is so important and the multicultural centre is the best place anyone can go.”

Ms Kannan said one of the joys of the city’s diversity was the constant appreciation of cultures and celebrations.

She said last month the centre had their own Iranian New Year.

“They set up everything on the table and they explain what it is.

“All cultures, all people from different countries come together and we celebrate different occasions in harmony.”