Venkat Raman
Auckland, October 25, 2022
Dunedin, the second largest city on South Island, is demonstrating its penchant for universal brotherhood and the increasing number of multicultural events is an indication of this trend.
Transcending barriers, Dunedinites have been active participants in Hindu festivals, one of which was the recently conducted Durgotsav, which pays obeisance to Goddess Durga.
Durgotsav 2022
The Sathi Association of Dunedin organised the two-day event on October 1 and October 2, 2022, at St Kilda Scouts Hall in Dunedin.
The event comprised all the Hindu rituals associated with the annual Durga Pooja Festival, including Kalash Sthapana, Abhishek, Pooja for Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Shanthi Pooja, Bodhan, Kanjika Pooja, Mahanavami and Bijoya Dashami.
The cultural activities included arts and crafts for children, singing, recitation and Garba Dance.
Sathi Association has a flat structure, with an Executive Committee and General Volunteers.
The Durgotsav was organised by Priyanka Majumdar, Joyti Kumar, Rajiv Hela, Manoj Kumar, Rohit Jain, Ganesh Rout, and Mridul Das.
About Sathi Association
The Sathi Association is a non-profit society representing New Zealanders of Hindu ethnicity.
Hindus originated in the Indian Subcontinent and are known for their rich culture and heritage.
They invite people of other ethnic groups to participate in their religious and social programmes, partly to spread the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or The World is One Family.
The Association organises cultural events to mark ethnic festivities in Dunedin. These events foster friendship and create a cultural bond, enabling people of various faiths to understand and appreciate each other’s religious and other values.
The Sathi Association aims to transfer the rich culture and heritage of Hindus to the ensuing generations through community involvement during these festivities.
From a Report filed by Mridul Das, Dunedin
