It was Naaree (Women in Hindi) Event at Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall today (19 November 2022). Organised by Naaree Women’s Group, the event acted as a catalyst that boosted local business and mobilised more than 400 attendees.
Encapsulating all the elements of a festival: singing, dancing, varieties of food, laughter, and conversations, the Naaree event was a sure hit with the attendees. “The event was designed as a food fair, and our posters reflected that as well. However, a lot of women reached out to us and requested that we open it to all entrepreneurs. That is how the food fair changed into a bazaar for clothing, jewellery, shoes, and other accessories. Many women expressed interest in performing as well. The food festival brought all these energies together to establish a celebration of cuisine, performing arts, and local enterprises,” said Gargi Trivedi one of the two founding members.
Naaree Jewellery show
The Naaree event, in collaboration with Estele NZ Jewellery, showcased a fashion jewellery ramp show. The models were Naaree founders, the host of the event RJ Junoo, and volunteers of the organization.
Felicitation for community leader
Ella Kumar, who is now serving her fifth term on the Puketāpapa (Mt Roskill) Elected Board, was honoured at the Naaree Event.
Kumar has a wealth of experience in municipal government, including arts and culture, libraries, sports and leisure, economic development, and planning. She advocates for results that are action-oriented and equitable. With over twenty years of experience on boards of trustees, including Mt Roskill Primary and Grammar, the community is at the core of what she does and believes in. Kumar is also a JP, and a wedding officiant.
Naaree collaborates with Breast Cancer Foundation NZ
The event also had a booth for the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. Naaree has been collaborating with the Breast Cancer Foundation for two years now.
Debra Leutenegger, a community breast health educator, told Indian Newslink that “women as young as 20 turned up at our booth to expand their knowledge about breast cancer. Many women inquired about breast self-examination.”
Leutenegger said that about nine women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day and reiterated the importance of self-examination and mammograms. She said that women aged between 45 and 69 can avail of free mammograms once every two years. Women can sign up for a mammogram at Time to Screen webpage.
Naaree Women’s Group
Gargi Trivedi and Kashika Singh founded the Naaree Women’s Group in 2020. What began as a small group of like-minded women has expanded to a membership of 3200 women. The organization’s mission is to create a forum for women to showcase their talents, elevate and support one another, and foster solidarity.
Malini Yugendran is an Indian Newslink correspondent based in Auckland.
