The Paradise Indo Cultural Society organised a well-attended Maa Durga Ka Jagran at the Templeton Community Center on March 25, 2023, where over 1,200 members of the Christchurch community gathered to pay their obeisance to the goddess during the auspicious Navratri.
The ‘Mata ka Jagran’ is traditionally a devotional gathering held to honour Maa Vaishno Devi (also known as Mata Rani, Trikuta, Ambe and Vaishnavi), who is a manifestation of the Hindu mother goddess Durga or Adi Shakti. Participants sing hymns and pray for blessings from the goddess for the entire night, led by a religious leader or singer in front of a decorated altar.
The stage was beautifully decorated with Mata’s pictures and in vibrant colours, and the highlight of the night was a rousing performance by Paramjit Hans, who is the younger brother of famous Punjabi singer Hansraj Hans.
Like his elder sibling, Hans is an accomplished folk and Sufi singer and has won many awards and accolades. He has performed in many countries, including the US, Canada, England, UAE, Kuwait and Australia. He lives in Canada and visited New Zealand to perform at the jagran.
Hans was accompanied by Nick Jassal, a singer who comes from a family of Indian musicians with roots in Sufi and devotional music. Jassal was also instrumental in putting the event together. Hans and Jassal were joined by musicians, including singer Dinesh Sabi and Piyush Sharma on tabla and Joshua on drums.
The event began with Mata puja, followed by Kanya Puja or Kanjak Poojan, an important rite during Navaratri honouring small girls representing goddess Durga’s avatars.
The team also served a delicious community dinner. Tea and snacks were served throughout the night for the devotees.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender, Hans said, “It’s my first time in New Zealand and I am pleasantly surprised to see the community’s enthusiasm here. It is heartening to see how we Indians keep ourselves connected with our culture through our common festivals and tradition. I thank the organisers for inviting me here and setting up this spiritual evening.”
Events like these are instrumental in bringing the Indian community in New Zealand connected to their roots and showcasing the rich Indian culture and heritage to the broader community in the country.
Jassal was pleased with the event’s success and is already looking for a bigger venue for next year. “We want all the community to come together and celebrate Navratri together. Seeing so many people join us this year was very encouraging,” he said.
The event was sponsored by Yogesh Bhargava, Better Choice Home Loans, KB Joinery, Arise Financial Services and others.