Harmony Square visitors were transported to India through a cultural and cinematic celebration.
Dandenong is a satellite location for this year’s Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
The State Government established the event in 2012 to celebrate cinema from India and the subcontinent.
The 11 to 21 August event featured more than 50 film screenings, Bollywood dance competitions and appearances from Indian film stars.
Harmony Square hosted a celebration on Saturday 13 August that included film screenings, Bollywood dancing, food stalls and live crosses to Federation Square.
Drum Theatre hosted film screenings on Monday 15 August to celebrate Indian Independence Day.
Greater Dandenong Mayor Heang Tak said Dandenong was home to Victoria’s first Indian cultural precinct.
“More than 85,000 people of Indian origin live within 20 kilometres of Dandenong’s Little India Precinct and more than 17,000 people from the Indian subcontinent choose to call the City of Greater Dandenong home,” he said.
IFFM festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said she was excited to bring the cinematic celebration to the Greater Dandenong community.
“What better bond than music and cinema to bring people of various cultures together,” she said.
The Drum will screen Ottaal – winner of the Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival – at 5pm on Saturday 20 August and Buddha in a Traffic Jam will follow at 7pm.
Tickets are $5 for children aged under 15 years and $8 for adults.
