Indian restaurants in Australia packed for Vindaloo Against Violence

MELBOURNE - Many Indian restaurants in Australia were booked out for Wednesday as part of the Vindaloo Against Violence initiative that is being held to show solidarity with the Indian community.

Indian restaurants in Melbourne, and across Australia, were booked out well in advance of the campaign, The Age reported.

Mia Northrop, 35, invited 100 friends on Facebook to dine out to support the Indian community, but her idea quickly gathered pace and many supported her initiative.

Brenda Pereira, co-owner of Indian Tukka on Victoria in Collingwood, said: “I think it will go really well. It’s just the awareness, everyone letting their friends know, it has a domino effect.

“I’m sure it will go well and the message will go out to the community,” The Age quoted her as saying.

Rajendra Pokhrel, owner of Northcote’s Downunder Curry, arrived at his restaurant four hours early to begin cooking.

“Whatever support they’re showing it’s great. If I let them down it’s not going to be good. It’s great, it’s definitely sending a message across.”

Melbourne’s Tiffins, which delivers Indian meals by bicycle, was having one of its busiest days.

Mikhil Kotak, who co-owns the business, said they had to close their website down because of the phenomenal response to the campaign.

“It is so busy we have four vans helping our fleet of five bikes to make 1,000 deliveries during lunch today (Wednesday).

“This is a huge amount and just goes to show how passionately locals feel about this message.