Radio New Zealand
Wellington, October 2, 2024
India-Pakistan ties
The sixth India-Pakistan Friendship Sufi Mehfil was organised on August 17 by the New Zealand Punjabi Multimedia Trust in the South Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe.
The event celebrated the independence of both nations and highlighted their shared cultural heritage.
In addition, Indian Independence Day celebrations were organised by the Indian Kiwi Positive Ageing Charitable Trust, the New Zealand Indian Seniors Citizens Association, the Upper Harbour Indian Association, the Bay of Plenty (Rotorua) Indian Association and the Country Section New Zealand Indian Association.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Association of New Zealand marked the country’s 78th Independence Day in Auckland on 14 September.
Similar celebrations took place in Dunedin on August 18, organised by the Dunedin Pakistan Society of Otago.
Sports
The Kiwi Tamil Samoogam organised its Annual Badminton Tournament in the South Auckland suburb of Papakura on August 11, with 18 teams participating. One notable feature of the event was the inclusion of at least one female player in every team in a bid to encourage young women to take up the sport.
The Auckland Marathi Association organised its Sports Day in the West Auckland suburb of New Lynn on August 17 to commemorate National Sports Day in India on August 29 – the birthday anniversary of hockey star Dhyan Chand. During the day-long event, players of all ages competed in table tennis, volleyball, carrom and chess.
Telugu Language Day
Kiwi Indians tracing their heritage back to the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana celebrated Telugu Language Day last month, with a special event organised by the Telugu Association of South Island in Christchurch. Highlights of the evening included skits performed by children and a cooking competition.
Telugu is the official language of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states, where the day is celebrated annually on August 29 to coincide with the birth anniversary of renowned Telugu poet Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy.
In addition, the New Zealand Telugu Association celebrated its 26th anniversary in Auckland on August 10.
Marking Krishna’s birthday
Organisations across the country celebrated Krishna Janmashtami, the birthday of the Hindu god Krishna, in August.
In Auckland, events were held at the ISKON Temple in Kumeu, Radha Krishna Mandir in Eden Terrace, Bhartiya Mandir in Sandringham, and Swaminarayan Temple and Maa Durga Bhavan Temple in Papatoetoe.
The Bay of Plenty (Rotorua) Indian Association also marked the celebrations on August 26 at the city’s Gandhi Hall.
Raksha Bandhan
The BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Avondale organised the Raksha Bandhan Festival in collaboration with the HOTA (Hindu Organisations, Temples and Associations) Forum in Auckland in August. The annual festival celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, as well as connections within communities and families.
A similar event was organised in Dunedin, where the community expressed gratitude to the police, fire services and healthcare workers.
Parsi New Year
Members of the Zoroastrian Community Trust of New Zealand celebrated Shenshahi Navroz (Parsi New Year) last month in Auckland. Along with traditional Parsi food, the highlight of the evening was a fashion show showcasing Parsi attire.
Parsis are followers of the Zoroastrianism religion who immigrated to India from Iran many centuries ago. The Zoroastrian community in New Zealand consist of migrants who have come mainly from India to make New Zealand their home.
The above report and the pictures have been published under a Special Agreement with www.rnz.co.nz.
