The New Zealand Telugu Association (NZTA) proudly celebrated a significant milestone, marking its 25th anniversary with a grand event in Auckland.
The day-long celebration on August 12, 2023, was a splendid showcase of heritage, unity and community spirit. The event drew an impressive turnout, bringing together members of the Telugu community from all corners of New Zealand and beyond to mark this significant milestone.
The event at Mahatma Gandhi Centre was graced by several dignitaries, including High Commissioner of India to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan; Head of Chancery and Second Secretary (Consular Affairs) at High Commission of India Mukesh Ghiya, and Hon Consul of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon.
Also in attendance were Labour, National and ACT members, reaffirming the NZTA's significance and impact in the community.
The Labour Party was represented by Michael Wood, Helen White and Kharag Singh; National by Melissa Lee, Siva Kilari and Mahesh Muralidhar, while the ACT Party was represented by Simon Court, Himanshu Parmar and Rahul Chopra.
Presidents of various Indian community organisations and prominent diaspora leaders, including Narendra Bhana, Dhansukh LaI, Harshad Patel, Roopa Sachdev, Shivani Arora, Jyoti Parasar, Vai Ravindran and Blessan Jose attended the event.
The morning session commenced with an ‘Astha Avadhanam’ performance by Tatavarthi Sri Kalyana Chakravarthy. It is a literary performance rooted in medieval Indian tradition where a skilled individual known as ‘Avadhani’ demonstrates extraordinary multitasking ability by engaging in eight complex tasks simultaneously or sequentially.
These tasks include answering diverse questions on various subjects, composing impromptu poetry, recalling large sets of information, and interpreting hidden meanings in verses.
The evening programme was a mesmerising blend of classical music, enthralling dance performances by talented children, and a captivating fashion show. Traditional Telugu music filled the air, transporting attendees to the heart of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Reflecting on the past 25 years, Suneel Kuncha, President of NZTA, said, "We are immensely proud of the New Zealand Telugu Association's journey over the past 25 years. Our association has not only served as a cultural bridge for the Telugu diaspora but has also become a tight-knit family that supports one another in various aspects of life.
“The event allowed attendees to immerse themselves in the rich history, language, literature, and artistry of the Telugu-speaking people. Our commitment to preserving and sharing Telugu culture remains unwavering. We continue to look ahead, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that the future holds, all while keeping the spirit of Telugu culture alive in the heart of New Zealand."
There were also felicitations, by way of presenting mementoes, to all the past presidents till now, along with felicitations of all the current executive members.
One of the attendees and NZTA's past president, Bala Venugopal Reddy Beeram, said, " I am honoured and privileged to have been part of NZTA’s silver jubilee celebrations. I served as president in 2008. I am very proud to see how this organisation has grown and reached such a milestone.”
Another attendee, Anita Keestra, representing the Fiji Girmit Foundation, said, “It was a great celebration with performances, entertainment and a lovely dinner.”
Former Parliamentarian Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi also extended his best wishes to NZTA and maintained that he “look forward to many more years of NZTA's continued success".