Annual Mushaira of Urdu Hindi Cultural Association on March 6, 2022
Venkat Raman
Auckland, March 1, 2022
Celebration of achievers, Jugalbandi of performers and poets’ corner are among the highlights of the ‘Mehfil e Saaz Aur Awaaz,’ scheduled to be held later this weekend.
Organised by the Urdu Hindi Cultural Association of New Zealand, the event will be held on Sunday, March 6, 2022 from 6 pm at Fickling Convention Centre, located at 546 Mt Albert Road in Three Kings, Auckland.
In view of the current Red Setting under the Traffic Lights System of New Zealand’s Covid-19 Protection Framework, entrance to the Programme is limited. All guests must show their Vaccine Certificate or Vaccine Pass at the entrance.
The Programme is open to all communities but entry is restricted to people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with a valid Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate or Vaccine Pass.
Leaders and Participants
Association President Roopa Suchdev will preside over the event, which promises a programme of high-quality Kavi Sammelan and Mushaira, with lovers of poetry representing a cross-section of the society.
Many leaders have sent their messages of goodwill. Among them are Transport and Work Relations & Safety Minister Michael Wood, Ethnic Communities, Youth, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan, MPs Melissa Lee, Dr Deborah Russell, and Helen White, Second Secretary (Press, Information and Culture) at the Wellington-based Indian High Commission.
Association Patron and former National List MP Kanwaljit Singh, former New Zealand First MP Mahesh Bindra, Puketapapa Local Board Members Fiona Lai and Bobby Shen, Hon Consul of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon, Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust Chairman Jeet Suchdev are featured in the programme.
Ms Suchdev said that the much-awaited event, styled, ‘Mehfil-E- Saaz Aur Awaaz’ aims to give poetry lovers in Hindi and Urdu a platform to present their art of reciting different forms of poems.
Release of Dhanak
Syed Mujeeb Hyderabadi, one of the founders and Secretary-General of the Organisation said that among the highlights of the evening will be the release of ‘Dhanak,’ the Annual Magazine of the Urdu Hindi Association of New Zealand.
“We are fortunate that Roopa Suchdev has been re-elected as our President for the Year 2022-2023 and we will have the pleasure of introducing the new team at the Mushaira Night. Ghouse Majeed, who has been a pillar of strength of our Association, will once again conduct the proceedings as the Master of Ceremonies,” he said.
‘Dhanak’ is a trilingual publication: Urdu (edited by Syed Mujeeb Hyderabadi) Hindi (edited by Suman Kapoor) and English (edited by Patrick Bennett).
“Dhanak mirrors the objectives of the Urdu Hindi Cultural Association of New Zealand, among which are to promote literature and community unity and encourage poets and singers to preserve and project the culture and traditions of the two important languages. We hope that the magazine will encourage the younger generation to carry on our treasures,” he said.
Among the performers are Gopal Nair, Khalid Hussein, Mukta Paranjape, Nisar Mirza, Kiranjit Singh, Vidya Teke and Captain Zain Juvale. They will be supported by Navneel Prasad, Vimal Kumar (Tabla), Segran Nair (Guitar), Khalid Hussein (Harmonium), Navneel Kumar (Sound System).
Ayub Khan will be the Master of Ceremonies.
About Urdu Hindi Cultural Association of New Zealand
Since its establishment in 2009, the Association has become an effective bridge between the past and the present, encouraging the learning, teaching and usage of Urdu and Hindi.
Auckland Mayor (then Leader of the Opposition) Phil Goff said at the launch, “Language is the greatest unifying force among people and a great source of cultural and social identity. While we are all partners in New Zealand’s progress and prosperity, we should also be conscious of our cultural tree, of which language is an important branch.”
Ms Suchdev said that Mushaira, Kavi Sammelan and Sham-E-Ghazal are greatly admired by participants and guests as a form of free expression.
“They also enlist the participation of the audience. We hope that ‘Mehfil-E-Saaz Aur Awaaz’ will not only bring out the best talents in our communities but also provide a high level of entertainment to our wider audiences,” she said.
