A Melbourne winter night was lit up this month by a vibrant multicultural lantern festival.

The inaugural ‘Luminous Festival’ took to the streets around the Queen Victoria Market and the Melbourne Multicultural Hub on the northern edge of the CBD.

Around 400 people from more than 30 migrant and refugee communities came together to celebrate Melbourne’s incredible diversity of cultures, heritages and histories.

The parade saw drummers and musicians lead lantern-holding community members around the market precinct.

Organised by migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia, the parade is aimed at bringing communities together to celebrate diversity and forge connections between communities.

Ahead of the parade, over the past few weeks, lantern-making workshops have been held at the multicultural hub bringing together dozens of people from more than 30 communities. The lantern makers have forged friendships and community bonds.

AMES Australia CEO Cath Scarth said the event brought people together to share a spectacular evening of light, colour and conversation.

“The parade is a celebration of the contributions migrants and refugees make in our community and a celebration of the rich cultural diversity they bring,” Ms Scarth said.

“It is fitting that we walked behind lanterns. For thousands of years, lanterns have played an important role in social events and religious festivals for almost all cultures and societies.

“They light the way for guests, and they illuminate the darkness. Lanterns are a symbol of good luck, health and prosperity.

“So, they are fitting symbol for the parade and for AMES Australia’s work in supporting migrants and refugees build successful new lives in Australia,” Ms Scarth said.

Afghan refugee Khalid Amiri, who took part in the parade, said it was important to connect newly arrived communities.

“It has been important for me to connect with other communities and with the broader Australia community. I think this is really important in people’s settlement journeys. Feeling connected and welcome is really vital when you are starting a new life in Australia,’ Khalid said.

“Also, I really like the idea of a lantern festival. Lanterns are symbolic of lighting the way and finding pathways; they are also symbolic of knowledge and learning which is important to me. They are a universal tool used by all communities and peoples for thousands of years, so they naturally are a unifying symbol,” he said.