Race Relations Day is the time to reflect on our journey as a culturally diverse nation. The world observes March 21 as the ‘International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.’
The Waitakere Indian Association combines Race Relations Day with ‘Holi Festival’ to acknowledge the value of cultural diversity and the need to support harmonious race relations. This year’s event will be held on March 27 (from 12 pm) at the Trusts Stadium in Henderson. Called, ‘Rang Barse Holi Mela,’ it will include ‘Children’s Day’ (marked in New Zealand on March 6).
More than 15,000 people attended the event held last year. Among them were Prime Minister John Key, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Government officials and top executives of commercial and cultural organisations.
Traditional music and dance will meet with the modern Bollywood variety to provide vivacious entertainment with sumptuous food. The ‘Faag Gaayan’ and the ‘Garba’ will take people back memory lane to their homeland.
This year’s celebrations will also feature ‘The Rain Dance,’ presented by the New Zealand Fire Brigade Services. People will sing and dance under water showers, marking Holi and Race Relations Day, signifying that we are all of one colour, children of the same God and bonded together as one nation.
This event was very popular with children last year and promises to be an added attraction this year.
The event is open to all members of the public, irrespective of their ethnicity, religious faith or social disposition.
