The Mana Andhra Telugu Association of New Zealand (MATA NZ) organised a delightful Ramadan Eid Milap in Auckland that was attended by several dignitaries.
The Western Springs Garden Community Hall event was a celebration of unity and was organised by a committee comprising individuals from different faiths.
The VIPs in attendance included parliamentarians Helen White and Melissa Lee, Hon Consul of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon, Honorary Consul of Nepal in Auckland Dinesh Khadka, President Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ Krish Naidu and ex-MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi.
The event, which more than 250 people attended, began by providing ‘sheer khurma’ and dry fruits to attendees as per Ramadan traditions. MATA NZ President Dr Reginald Samuel delivered the opening remarks. It was followed by a recitation of Tilawat-E-Quran-E-Pak, a recitation of the successive verses of the Quran in a standardised manner, by Hafiz Junaid; and Hamd and Naat, a musical genre that features religious chants set to lyrics praising the almighty, by Nisar Mirza and Rustom Khan respectively.
MATA NZ’s Women’s Wing & Youth Wing Coordinator Praveena Daruvuri was the emcee of the event along with the organisation’s general secretary, Ghouse Majeed.
Eminent community leaders Anjum Rahman, Syed Mujeeb and Ibrar Sheikh were recognised for their outstanding contributions to society at this event on April 28, 2023.
Anjum Rahman MNZM, Co-Lead of Inclusive Aotearoa Collective Tahono, said, “It was such an honour to be recognised by the Mana Andhra Telegu Association NZ, with a lovely event that also celebrated Eid al-Fitr. Working in the community has been a lifelong passion for me, inspired by my parents who helped to establish a community in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton). My focus has been to build understanding between different groups, and the Mana Andhra group is an excellent example of how people with different beliefs can work together for the betterment of all.”
Syed Mujeeb QSM, a journalist who has also been active in the Muslim community, said, “I am overwhelmed with this recogistion by MATA NZ. It has inspired me to do more for the community.”
The evening was a celebration of unity and brought together people from different backgrounds to recognise and appreciate the contributions of community leaders.
MP Melissa Lee said, “It was a wonderful Eid Milap with MATA NZ. Great work by its executive committee and the amazing volunteers for this celebration.”
Naveed Hamid, ex-President of Pakistan Association of New Zealand, called the event "a truly wonderful experience”. He said, “The event was filled with joy, warmth, and happiness as people from all walks of life celebrated this special occasion. What struck me the most about the event was the sense of community and togetherness. It was a beautiful reminder of how important it is to celebrate our differences and come together to share in each other's cultures and traditions.”
Ghouse Majeed said such events are critical for maintaining and enhancing religious harmony. “NZ is known for its multicultural ethnicities. Maintaining and enhancing religious harmony is the main inspiration behind this event. Ramadan Eid Milap gave an opportunity to people from different faiths to celebrate the Muslim community.” he told The Indian Weekender.
The event saw MATA NZ Vice-President Srinivasa Prasad Sappa giving a vote of thanks. Guests enjoyed musical performances by Kiranjit Singh, Nisar Mirza and Nasir Khan while savouring delicious dinner.
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