Indian community organisations bag Gold at Selwyn Awards 2023

The Selwyn Awards 2023 saw a remarkable celebration of excellence and cultural enrichment, with the Gold Award in the Arts and Culture category being shared by The Canterbury Indian Women Group Trust(CIWGT) and the Bharatiya Samaj Canterbury Trust(BSCT). 

The Selwyn Awards, presented by the Selwyn District Council, were held on August 5th in the presence of Mayor Sam Broughton, and the event's affable MC, Hilary Barry, a prominent TV presenter, presided over the ceremony. 

The two organisations were represented by Archna Tandon and Surinder Tandon, trustees of both community groups. Archna serves as the Chair of CIWGT, a women-specific group, while Surinder chairs BSCT, dedicated to the Indian and wider community.

They were recognised for being instrumental in nurturing and celebrating the vibrant Indian arts and cultural heritage within the Selwyn community for many years.

Selwyn Awards mentioned that with members from diverse Indian regions, including Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Bengali, these trusts have played a pivotal role in organising and delivering a series of culturally significant events. Among these are the beloved Selwyn Diwali, Selwyn CultureFest, Karvachauth (an Indian festival for married Hindu women), and International Yoga Day.

The trusts have also been integral to the organising committee of Selwyn CultureFest since 2016, encouraging the participation of numerous Indian and ethnic groups. They previously organised the annual Lincoln Multicultural Festival from 2004 to 2014, providing a platform for diverse communities to showcase their arts and culture.

Surinder expressed their delight in getting the awards, saying, “It is great to be recognised. We have been doing our part to bring people together, foster cultural exchange, and promote social inclusion. The award will only motivate us to do even more and represent our community to do even better.”

Archna said, “On behalf of the entire team of CIWGT, I am thankful to the Selwyn District Council for this recognition. Our team is focused on playing a pivotal role in educating New Zealanders about the value of ethnic communities and enriching the lives of residents in Selwyn and greater Christchurch.”