Venkat Raman
Auckland, August 16, 2023
Hundreds of people drawn from Asian, European, Maori, Polynesian and other communities will showcase their talent and highlight their cultural heritage at the Multiethnic Dance Festival to be held in Auckland on Saturday, September 23, 2023.
The Nepalese Cultural Centre New Zealand Inc (NCCNZI) is organising the event, the seventh in an annual series, building on the success that it has achieved over the past six years. The Festival will be held from 5 pm at Victory Convention Centre, located at 98 Beaumont Street in Freemans Bay, Auckland.
About the Festival
NCCNZI President Kamal Prasad Shreshta said that since the Festival began in 2016, the number of participating ethnic communities has risen to 50 ethnic communities from 38 countries.
He said that the Seventh Multiethnic Dance Festival 2023 will integrate many cultures and establish a strong relationship between various ethnic communities.
“The number is increasing every year and we hope to include all ethnic communities (about 215) by 2035. This year, 40 communities from 25 countries are expected to participate, displaying their cultural heritage and costumes. We are concerting all efforts to increase the participation of other communities. Bollywood performance will also be a part of the programme,” he said.
As well as encouraging various ethnic communities to get together to promote their culture, the Centre aims to enhance peace and harmony in New Zealand, he said.
“We are truly a multicultural country, and we hope that our annual Multiethnic Dance Festival will help people to understand each other and be a catalyst in establishing stronger relationships with mutual respect for each other’s culture, language and traditions,” he said.
Mr Shreshta said that ethnic communities have realised the value of the Multiethnic Dance Festival as an effective way of promoting and understanding various cultures with their meaning and values.
“Appreciating cultural values helps us to become tolerant and appreciative of all ethnicities, thereby promoting peace and harmony. Various associations are doing well to promote their own culture. We believe that our Multiethnic Dance Festival helps all of us to understand each other. This is a collaborative effort, and its success depends on all of us. Therefore, we extend our invitation to all communities,” he said.
About the Centre
Established as a charitable, not-for-profit organisation in March 2008, the Nepalese Cultural Centre New Zealand Inc aims to promote Nepalese Culture and foster peace and harmony among all communities in New Zealand. Nepalese language classes are held for people of Nepali origin and for all others keen on learning the language.
The Centre has been conducting various cultural and social events to promote Nepali heritage and provide a platform for other ethnic communities to showcase their culture. Apart from organising religious festivals that are popular in Nepal, the Centre conducts orientation programmes for other communities to understand Nepali values and traditions.
“We acknowledge all ethnic communities in Auckland and other parts of New Zealand for their support of our Multiethnic Dance Festival. We hope that other associations will take ownership of this Festival in the future and build on its success. It is towards the achievement of this objective that we encourage all communities to join hands with us to make further improvements to the Multiethnic Festival. We are keen to have your ideas and partnership for social progress,” he said.
