Organisers of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion's Illumin8 festival have cancelled this year's event following COVID-19 public health concerns.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In a statement, festival organisers said they were disappointed not be able to go ahead with this year's festival that was scheduled for June 6.
Government decisions advising against the non-essential, organised public gatherings of more than 500 people meant the festival would have to cancel this year's sound and light shows.
"This decision was made after careful consideration, with the health and safety of everyone visiting and involved in the festival, remaining our top priority," the statement said.
"We are hugely saddened as we believe we were presenting an amazing line-up of cultural performances and activities, light sculptures, food and family fun, but unfortunately the situation is out of our control.
"Although we're devastated this year can't go ahead, the wonderful program we had planned will be returning in 2021. Thank you to everyone for supporting us."
The festival was first held in 2018 and attracts thousands of people to the region.
This year's festival would have celebrated the completion of the exterior construction of the stupa, which was unveiled earlier in the year.
We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.