Diverse audience appreciates Raksha Bandhan

PRESS RELEASE (2 Sept 2010)

Diverse New Zealand audience appreciates Raksha Bandhan celebrations

Over 700 people celebrated the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre, Auckland on Sunday, 29 August 2010.

The programme was officially opened by the lighting of the lamp by the leader of the opposition, Hon. Phil Goff; Race Relations Commissioner, Mr. Joris De Bres; His Worship, the Mayor of North Shore City, Mr. Andrew Williams; His Worship, the Mayor of Manukau city, Mr. Len Brown and Mr. Vinod Kumar, President of Hindu Council of New Zealand – the host of Hindu Organisations, Temples and Associations (HOTA) Forum for this year. Ms. Mamta Bhikha, coordinator of the festival, welcomed all present. The specially invited guests described Raksha Bandhan as the festival that sanctifies the relationship between a brother and a sister; and, in its broader meaning, the Dharmic concepts of universal fellowship and veneration of womanhood. Mr De Bres recalled his presence at the 3rd New Zealand Hindu Conference where the HOTA forum was launched. He commended the Hindu Council of New Zealand for its reputation to follow up and deliver on their promises to the community; in this case, the delivery of a landmark event within a very short time.

The unveiling of the HOTA ‘Ekta Shankh’ was the highlight of the formal ceremony. “Ekta shankh” is a carving symbolising unity among various communities, created by Mr. Tane Singh-Lagah from Rotorua, a carver in Maori tradition, and of Maori and Indian descent.

Hindu Council of New Zealand passed the ‘Ekta Shankh’ to the New Zealand Hindu Temple Society, the host of HOTA Forum for the next year. Mr Vai Ravindran and Mr Ilango Krishnamoorthy, received the ‘Ekta Shankh’ and shared their vision of unity among communities. Each year one of the HOTA Forum members will be the host of the HOTA Forum. The host will also convene a meeting in February, where all members will find an opportunity to discuss strengths of and opportunities for the Hindu community on a unifying platform.

Hindu Council of New Zealand launched three websites at the festival. They are Hindu Council of New Zealand (http://hinducouncil.org.nz), Rotorua Deepawali Festival (http://rotoruadeepawali.org) and Yogathon (http://yogathon-nz.org).

The symbolism of Raksha Bandhan is the act of tying the sanctified thread rakhi on the wrists of each other. The attendees participated by tying the rakhi among themselves, including family, friends, and others in the audience. The hands of Members of Parliament, Dr. Rajen Prasad and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi; Deputy Mayor of North Shore - Julia Parfitt; Deputy Mayor of Rodney District - John Kirikiri, Mrs. Vijaya Vaidyanath (CEO, Waitakere City Council) and other prominent figures of the community overflowed with Rakhis.

Masters of ceremonies Ms. Nitika Sharma (Secretary of Hindu Youth New Zealand) and Brana Ravichelavan (of Sri Satya Sai Service Organisation and the Coordinator of the open suitcase project) took the audience through the day’s cultural program. On show were specialised Kapa Haka, Bharatnatyam, Bhangra, Chinese dragon and Lion dance, South Indian folk dance, Garba, Japanese drum beats, Punjabi Giddha , vocal music, a performance of sitar and tabla, and the programme concluded with an energy packed modern dance.

Mrs. Ranjna Patel (QSM, JP) spoke about the remarkable journey of Indian women in leadership roles in New Zealand, and recounted her own experiences. Some key leaders from the Indian community were invited to present the photo of the Mahalakshmi Narayani Temple as a token of appreciation to each of the dance groups that peformed. This temple is located in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. More than 400 gold and coppersmiths are said to have worked for six years to craft this temple out of gold, and some have called it the Hindu Golden Temple.

On behalf of the host and the organising committee, Ms. Komal Shah read the vote of thanks which included the ANZ Bank for their support to the Raksha Bandhan festival.

The HOTA forum under the leadership of the next year’s host, the New Zealand Hindu Temple Society, looks forward to the celebration of the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan in Auckland next year.
ends

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