Tamil New Year, also known as Puthandu, was celebrated in style with great enthusiasm and joy in Auckland. The event, organised by local community organisation Auckland Tamil Association (ATA), was attended by more than 400 Kiwi-Tamilians residing in the city, and people from other cultural backgrounds interested in learning more about the Tamil culture and traditions.
Held at Freeman Bay Community Centre on April 15, 2023, the event had the presence of dignitaries such as parliamentarians Vanushi Walters and Melissa Lee, Hon Consul of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon, Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust Chairperson Jeet Suchdev, Nepal's Honorary Consul in Auckland Dinesh Khadka and former MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi among many others.
The biggest highlights of the colourful and lively affair were the inaugural release of ATA’s Yearbook 2022-2023 and a variety of cultural performances, including classical dance and music showcasing the vibrant Tamil culture.
Walters, a Tamil of Sri Lankan descent, said, “Thank you, Auckland Tamil Association and especially Mr Ravindran Vai, for inviting me to celebrate Tamil New Year. Always a highlight of my year. Enjoyed the excellent entertainment at the event.”
Karunanidhi (Karuna) Muthu, National Party candidate from Rongotai in Wellington for the 2023 national elections, said, "It was a pleasure attending the Tamil New Year celebrations organised by ATA in Auckland. Thanks, Vai and the ATA team. Keep up the great work you do in preserving the Tamil culture, heritage and language.” Krish Naidu, President of Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ, called it a “very well organised event”.
Talking to The Indian Weekender, ATA President Ravindran Vai spoke about the importance of preserving the Tamil culture in New Zealand, and emphasised the need for the younger generation to learn and appreciate the traditions of their forefathers.
He said, “The primary inspirations behind organising ATA's Tamil New Year celebrations is to promote and celebrate cultural diversity and heritage by showcasing our cultural traditions, practices and values to others in their community, and to foster a greater understanding and appreciation for diverse cultural perspectives.”
He added multicultural community events like this promote cultural diversity and awareness and provide a platform for different communities to share their unique cultural traditions, practices and values with others, thus fostering mutual understanding and respect.
“Cultural events like these can serve as a means of preserving and promoting cultural heritage. By showcasing traditional music, dance, food and other aspects of culture, these events can help to ensure that cultural practices and traditions are passed down from one generation to the next,” he said.
The event also featured a spread of traditional Tamil cuisine. The event was a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural traditions even when living in a foreign land.
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The Tamil New Year is the first day of the year on the Tamil calendar, usually on April 14 or April 15. According to legend, Lord Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, began creating the world on this day, which is also considered an auspicious day to start new ventures. It is also associated with the harvest festival.
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