The IndianNZ Association of Christchurch hosted the Christchurch Multicultural Festival - Celebration of Cultures at the La Vida Convention Centre on July 23.
A 1,500-strong crowd from different ethnicities turned up to witness the 24 performances put together by the Association.
The event was supported by Ministry for Ethnic Communities and Christchurch City Council.
Indian cuisine was available for visitors to savour at La Vida Convention Centre, which was decorated in traditional Indian style.
Avi Aulakh- a Year 11 student at Christchurch Boys High School, was the host this year at the Festival and did a commendable job.
First hosted last year at the request of Christchurch’s Multicultural Communities, the Christchurch Multicultural Festival - Celebration Of Cultures has become incredibly popular and is now a keenly awaited annual event .
The highlight of the evening was a scintillating show put up by performers from around 20 different countries that showcased their culture through dance and music. The countries included India, Fiji, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Japan, Iran, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Philippines, Spain, and Poland, among others.
The evening started with a Bharatnatyam performance, followed by traditional Chinese and Korean dances. The Japanese Drumming group had some foot-thumping beats while the Polish folk dance group charmed the audience with their gracious moves. A traditional Chilean dance performance also offered the audience a rare opportunity to enjoy their distinct culture.
The three-hour show ended with an energetic performance by the Punjabi group that had the audience on its feet.
The performers were aged from 10 to 60 years and wore traditional costumes that created a vibrant environment. Each of the performing groups also received a certificate from the organisers.
Duncan Webb, Labour MP for Christchurch Central, was the chief guest for the evening. “It was a great night at Christchurch's Multicultural Communities’ Multicultural Festival 2022. A fantastic night of performances, meeting old friends and great food, he said ”
Formed in 2017, IndianNZ Association of Christchurch organises free events for the wider communities in the region.
Parminder Kaur, who is the chair of the association, said: “We want to provide the Kiwi-born children with an opportunity to experience and showcase the cultural diversity of our community and give them a platform to stay connected with their roots.”
Every year, the Association hosts three annual events- Christchurch Lohri Mela, Christchurch Multicultural Festival - Celebration Of Cultures and Mela Punjabana Da - Ladies Cultural Night.
The association regularly provides help to the needy or International students and has helped many families during the Covid19 pandemic with their basic needs. The association also organised Learning Communities HUB with the MInistry of Education for awareness of New Zealand Curriculum system to the new migrant families.
The Association is now planning and preparing to host its next event Mela Punjabana Da - Ladies Cultural Night, to be held on October 8.
Thanking the sponsors, Gurvinder Aulakh, president of the association, said, “I want to thank our presenting partner, Loan Market Paramount and Nathan Miglani, Arise Financial Services, Harmandeep Raywhite, Bombay Bazaar, Glass Delivery Specialist and LS Jewels & Outfit for their support. Without their motivation and cooperation, it would not have been possible to undertake the festival of this magnitude.”
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