More than 160 people celebrated a Harmony Day event at Ararat College on Saturday, surpassing the organisers’ expectations.

Harmony Day is marked in Australia on March 21 each year as a way to celebrate the country’s cultural diversity.

Ararat’s Harmony Day event was jointly organised by Rural Australians for Refugees Grampians-Gariwerd and Ararat Rural City Council, and featured cultural displays from several ethnic groups that call the region home.

Included in the festivities were dances and singing from Solomon Islands, Karen and Fijian groups, with the Ararat Community Church Choir also performing.

Ararat Lions Club and Ararat Anglican Church helped cater the event.

Organiser Anita San Ba said the day was a success.

“We catered for 100 people, but when we counted we had more than 160,” she said.

“We want to show how diverse the Ararat community is. We want to give the performers opportunities to showcase their cultures to the rest of the community.”

• Diversity Week and Harmony Day events, page 19 of this week's The Weekly Advertiser.

The entire March 20, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!