Hundreds of Kiwi-Indians gathered at the Auckland Indian Association’s Mahatma Gandhi Centre to celebrate India’s Independence Day this week.
The event, held two days in advance on a Sunday, August 13, marked a notable moment of unity within the Indian diaspora community in Auckland.
The occasion was attended by many dignitaries, including India’s Head of Chancery, Mukesh Ghiya, who travelled from Wellington; and Hon Consul of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon. The event was a colourful and elegant celebration that brought together diverse Indian diaspora organisations.
In a reflection of the community’s strength and cohesion, this year’s programme was jointly orchestrated by two major diaspora organisations–Auckland Tamil Association (ATA) and Auckland Marathi Association Inc. (AMAI).
National’s prime ministerial candidate Christopher Luxon; Minister for Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan and Michael Wood among others from Labour; as well as ACT’s Paramjeet Parmar and Rahul Chopra lent their presence to the occasion. A sizable contingent of NZ Police was also in attendance.
The leadership roles of Vai Ravindran, President of ATA, and Neha Nalawade, President of AMAI, were pivotal as they energetically presented the day’s events and activities to the eager audience.
It marked the first time that such a collaborative endeavour had been undertaken, signifying a momentous stride towards fostering cooperation and inclusivity within the Indian diaspora community in Auckland.
Bhartiya Samaj Chairperson Jeet Suchdev said, “On behalf of Auckland Indian diaspora, I am thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to both the Auckland Marathi Association and the Auckland Tamil Association for the incredible success of the India Independence Day celebration.”
Bhav Dhillon said, “ [It is] a perfect display of unity in diversity that adds to the overall respect for our community in the eyes of our politicians. If we continue to promote love and brotherhood by constructively working together, the polity of this nation will take us even more seriously. Remember, 11 per cent of Auckland’s population is now of Indian origin.”
The meticulously planned programme adhered to a tight schedule, earning admiration from both the audience and community leaders who praised the excellent selection of items that were presented.
The excellently choreographed and performed proceedings were deftly navigated with finesse by AMAI’s Vishal and ATA’s Karthik as co-hosts displaying perfect complementarity.
Responding to the all-round praise from diaspora leaders, Auckland Tamil Association President Vai Ravindran said, “I like to thank everyone who acknowledged us for being the host of today’s event. It was wonderful working with Nehaji. Thanks once again to all for this splendid opportunity.”
Co-organiser and his counterpart from Auckland Marathi Association Neha Nalawade said, “I would like to sincerely thank you all for acknowledging our achievement today. It was an honour hosting Independence Day celebrations. We are very lucky to have this support and encouragement from our diaspora family.”
As the event concluded, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of accomplishment, unity, and optimism. The collaboration had not only produced a memorable celebration of India’s Independence Day but also set a precedent for future engagements within the Indian diaspora community in Auckland.
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