Blacktown City's increasingly popular Diwali Lights Competition is back in 2025!
The ancient Hindu festival of Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, with observers around the world lighting lamps and candles in and around homes and temples. These lights are said to help the goddess Lakshmi - goddess of wealth - find her way to homes and businesses. Adding to the colour are rangoli artworks on the floors of living rooms and courtyards; these are bright patterns (the most popular being a lotus flower) created from coloured sand, petals, flour or dry rice.
$2500 in cash prizes are available for the best decorated properties across our City’s 5 Wards.
We will once again recognise the prestigious title of 'Best Street'. Best Street acknowledges neighbours who come together in the spirit of Diwali to create a festive and culture-filled atmosphere in the street they each call home. To be eligible for this category, you must have a minimum of 3 decorated properties entered from the same street. The street that successfully takes out this title will receive a sign erected acknowledging them as the winner of 'Best Street Blacktown City Diwali Lights Competition 2025'.
Residents of all backgrounds are encouraged to get involved by decorating their home with lights.
Visit website for when 2025 nominations open
1. This competition is open to residents of the Blacktown Local Government Area only.
2. Preliminary Judging dates: Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 October inclusive, between 8 pm and 11 pm. Properties must have their displays on and ready to be judged at any point during this time frame. Properties who do not have their display on when visited by the judges will be marked as ineligible.
3. Final Round Judging, including judging of Best Rangoli Friday 1 November, between 8 pm and 11 pm. Entrants will be contacted by a Council Officer if they have advanced to the final round of judging, to schedule an appointment.
4. Judging is conducted through points awarded for the overall display. The prizes for this competition will be awarded on the basis of the scores given. Traditional Christmas ornaments or themes i.e. Santa Claus, will not be considered.
5. Each property will be judged only on decorations visible from the front of the property. Judges will not be entering properties and therefore no internal decorations will be considered, nor those in back or side yards. Judging is completed anonymously and without contact with the entrant.
6. Best Rangoli is a finalist category, and is eligible only for properties that advance through to the final round of judging.
7. The judges’ decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered into.
8. Entrants agree to have their names and address disclosed for judging and publicity purposes.
9. Entrants agree to have their property photographed for judging and publicity purposes.
10. Entrants accept responsibility for the safety of their property with issues pertaining but not limited to: electricity, pedestrians, equipment, decorations, damage and insurance. Entrants must consider the impact of their display in relation to safety and security of their property, vehicular and pedestrian traffic and must plan to ensure that any risks are minimised. The security of all aspects of the display is the sole responsibility of the entrant.
11. Blacktown City Council and sponsors of this competition will accept no liability for any consequences such as damage, injury or theft arising out of entry to the competition or prizes accepted by entrants.
12. Charity collection boxes are prohibited unless a letter of authority from a registered charity is obtained and prominently displayed. Collections for personal gain of the entrant are strictly prohibited and will lead to disqualification from the competition.
13. Entrants are not to use the footpath, electrical poles or any property outside their boundary for any purpose of their display. Rental properties should seek written permission from their landlords before considering their display.
14.Entrants should be mindful of the potential impacts on their neighbours in regard to light spillage, noise and the hours of operation of their light and sound displays. Placement and operation of decorations on properties should be carried out having respect for local neighbourhood amenity.
15. Failure to comply with the Terms and Conditions of Entry may lead to cancellation of entry and withdrawal of prizes.