Nandan NZ to relive a tradition on April 24, 2022
Venkat Raman
Auckland, April 19, 2022
The spirit of community welfare, good neighbourly relations and social cohesion will come alive as Nandan NZ, a cultural organisation of the Bengali community practices ‘Probhat Pheri’ (Morning Procession) on Sunday, April 24, 2022, from 10.30 am.
Cultural Secretary Swastika Ganguly said that the 90-minute event will commemorate the start of the Bengali New Year which began on April 15, 2022.
“This tradition is unfortunately lost in the modern world. Long ago, people would be up at the crack of dawn and take rounds of the neighbourhood singing, dancing and playing ethnic instruments. It is believed that this ritual invoked the good spirits, and would chase the evil spirits of the night, further welcoming the morning with good vibrations. This year, the event will be celebrated with a short cultural event followed by snacks along with a quintessential homely Bong ‘Chit-Chat Adda.’ This programme will be held at Cornwall Park (opposite Cafe Bistro/ Acacia Cottage) located at Greenlane,” she said.
About Probhat (or Prabhat) Pheri
According to The Art of Living, long ago in India, people used to rise early on ‘Prabhat Pehri’ Day to take rounds of the village chanting and singing bhajans and playing ethnic instruments.
“It is believed that this ritual invoked the good spirits, and would chase the evil spirits of the night, further welcoming the morning with good vibrations. It used to happen everywhere across the country, and it continued till it got shadowed by late-night partying and morning hangovers. But it is acknowledging to know that in some of the villages and tribes where belief is not considered superstition, people still get up in the morning, and roam around the village invoking the good spirits with chants, and music and rhythm coming out of eccentric instruments.”
About Nandan
The primary goal of Nandan is to make Bengalis feel at home, located thousands of kilometres away from their Motherland. Throughout the year, Nandan organises cultural, and religious-social programmes like Independence Day, Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Saraswati Puja, Annual Picnic and Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year), to mention a few. The Association also conducts its ‘Natak’ (drama), enjoyed by our members and non-members.
Website http://nandannz.info
