About 200 people gathered to mark the occasion also known as Lar Ko Kee Su, which sees residents have strands of white thread bound around their wrist.  

Karen community member Gay Proth La Myint said the ceremony symbolised solidarity between her people, all of whom were welcome to partake in the practice regardless of their religion.  

"No matter where you come from, we all belong to the human race," she said, explaining several of her Australian-born friends were also involved in wrist tying proceedings. 

"I tell them, 'You are Karen now'," she said, laughing. 

Bendigo resident Evie Monteith, who went to school with Ms La Myint, joined a Karen Culture and Social Support Foundation welcome dance performed on Saturday. She described the day as special and said it offered her the opportunity to learn about cultures different from her own. 

Federal Bendigo MP Lisa Chesters and Victorian parliamentarian Maree Edwards also attended the weekend event. 

Ms Edwards commended Karen people who had decided to become Australian citizens and chose Bendigo as their new hometown. 

"We are very, very proud in Victoria to have such a great multicultural community. It's one of our great strengths," she said.

"How fortunate we are in Bendigo to be able to participate and celebtrate with you this traditional and ancient ceremony." 

Members of the Karen community from the west Melbourne suburb of Werribee also travelled up the Calder Highway for the festival, contributing three dances to the day’s proceedings.

Well-known singer Naw Thien Lar Baw even journeyed from Burma to perform at the ceremony, as well as staging a concert in the BSE College theatre later in the evening.  

The annual ceremony is not the only occasion the Karen culture turns to the ancient practice of wrist tying. 

Versions are also performed year-round for weddings and to safeguard people against the advent of ill health.