Members of the Indian diaspora in Melbourne on Tuesday, 7 July performed a Vedic Havan — a sacred fire ritual — for the long life and good health of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of his scheduled visit to Australia later this week. The prayer ceremony, coordinated with the Australia India Foundation (AIF), reflects the deep emotional connect the Indian community in Victoria feels toward the Prime Minister.

Why the Community Organised the Havan

Speaking at the event, a community member said Modi carries the aspirations of all 144 crore Indians wherever he travels. 'Prime Minister Modi has a unique aura... He has received the highest honour awards from 34 countries... Wherever he goes in the world, he takes India with him,' the member noted.

Another attendee said the havan was specifically organised after the community learnt of Modi's impending visit. 'When we found out that Modi ji was coming, we told the people of AIF that before he comes, we want to organise this havan for his long life. We are praying for his long life — he should remain in good health always,' the diaspora member said.

Rising Stature of the Indian Community in Australia

Several participants highlighted that the standing of the Indian community across Australia has grown significantly in recent years. One member attributed this directly to Modi's diplomatic outreach and the warmth he has extended to the Indo-Australian relationship. 'All the governments are gradually increasing their support for Indian community organisations here... That respect has increased many times since Modi ji came and because of the friendship that he extended,' the member said.

Community members also welcomed the measures taken by the Indian government for its diaspora worldwide, describing them as meaningful steps for Indians living not just in Australia but globally.

High Commissioner Flags 'Tremendous Enthusiasm'

India's High Commissioner to Australia, Nagesh Singh, described the mood across the country as one of considerable excitement ahead of Modi's community address at Marvel Arena in Melbourne. Singh estimated that between 5 to 7 lakh people of Indian origin live in Victoria State, and projected that 25,000 to 30,000 attendees could participate in the joint public address by Prime Minister Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

'People want to come here from all the states. Organisers have not been able to accommodate many people because there is limited space,' Singh said, adding that demand for the event has outpaced venue capacity. He recalled that during Modi's previous visit to Australia, Prime Minister Albanese had publicly called Modi 'the boss' — a reflection of the energy that Indian diaspora events generate. Singh indicated this edition is expected to surpass that.

A Value-Based Partnership at the Core

Beyond the community fervour, Singh underscored the strategic depth of the India-Australia relationship. He described it as a 'value-based relationship' anchored in shared commitments to a free, open, peaceful, rule-based international order and a stable Indo-Pacific. 'Our two countries have the same values. We are democracies, multicultural, multi-ethnic societies. We take pride in our diversity, in our pluralism, in every sense,' he said.

Singh stressed that both nations seek peace and development — not just for themselves but for their broader regions, encompassing South Asia and the Pacific. As Modi's Australia visit draws closer, the Melbourne havan stands as a vivid symbol of the diaspora's role as a living bridge between the two democracies.