Harinder Sidhu returns as Australian envoy

Submitting her credentials to President Pranab Mukherjee would complete the formalities of

Harinder Sidhu

being the

Australian High Commissioner to India

. So, before that moment came, she threw a party on the embassy premises to meet some of the city’s eminent personalities. On the occasion, while addressing the crowd, she said, “My family is from Punjab, but I have not lived in India much. I’ll try to explore more about its culture and heritage and at the same time, share the same about Australia with my Indian friends and colleagues.” Sidhu added, “I will try to pursue my literary passions as well by perhaps organizing a literature festival.”

To make her arrival special, cousins, Chef

Clayton Donovan

and musician

Emma Donovan

made the evening a happening affair. “A lot of people from the Indian community live in the part of Australia where I come from, so I have had the chance to savour Indian delicacies. This is my first trip to India and a few friends took to me to Old Delhi where I had aloo tikka, parantha and jalebis,” Clayton said. When asked if he found Indian food spicy, he replied, “Certainly and I loved it because it makes you feel alive. I have to come back to India again to try out more food items here.” Emma and rhythm group The PutBacks sang soul tracks in aboriginal languages. “The food is just fabulous and the music is making the evening livelier,” said Rakesh Thakore, fashion designer, who was among other guests at the event.