Preparations for Raksha Bandhan 2012 well under way

17 July 2012

Preparations for Raksha Bandhan 2012 well under way

Over 1000 people are expected to gather at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Auckland on Saturday, 11th August 2012 to celebrate the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan 2012, a festival that promotes universal fellowship and marks the veneration of womanhood.

The festival will be inaugurated by His Worship Len Brown, the Mayor of Auckland city.

This annual festival is organised by the Hindu Organisations, Temples and Associations (HOTA) Forum. Every year, one of the members in HOTA Forum gets an opportunity to host the programme on a rotation basis. The host for the year then carries with them the “Ekta Shankh”, a carving made for the HOTA forum by the Maori-Hindu sculptor Tane Singh-Lagah.

The host also convenes an annual meeting in February, where all HOTA members discuss the strengths of and opportunities for the Hindu community on the unifying platform of HOTA. Previous hosts of the HOTA forum have been the Hindu Council of New Zealand and the New Zealand Hindu Temple Society.

Hindu Swayamsewak Sangh, a not-for-profit community service organisation, is the host of the HOTA Forum this year, and will pass the ‘Ekta Shankh’ to the next year’s host at the festival.

“The Raksha Bandhan festival has the powerful yet simple message of Hindu philosophy – the world is one family (Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam),” said Srikant Bhave, Co-ordinator of Raksha Bandhan 2012, and General Secretary, Hindu Swayamsewak Sangh.

As part of Raksha Bandhan 2012 celebrations, there will be a 3-hour cultural programme. Raksha Bandhan celebrations by the HOTA forum have always provided an excellent opportunity for talented practitioners of classical, traditional and folk dances from all around the world to showcase their skills to present their culture, tradition and stories through stage performances.

In the previous years, classical and traditional performers from Aotearoa (New Zealand), China, Japan, Middle East, and various regions of Bharat (India) have performed for the public.

“This year we have Maori and Samoan performing artists on board,” said Sundara Subbiah, cultural programme coordinator for the Raksha Bandhan festival.

The festival will be celebrated in a smoke-free, alcohol-free and meat free (strictly vegetarian) family atmosphere. Entry to the festival is free to members of general public.

Due to capacity constraints, entry will be through reservations on first come first served basis only. For reservations, please email rb@hota.org.nz

Hindu Temples, Organisations or Associations and any not for profit organisations from all communities who wish to have a stall to display material and sell items are welcome. For stall reservations please email cshekhar85@yahoo.com

For more information regarding the Raksha Bandhan 2012, please visit our website: http://hota.org.nz/

ENDS

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