25 September 2012
Wellington to celebrate Gandhi’s birthday
Wellington City Council and the Mahatma Gandhi Commemoration Committee are co-hosting an event in Wellington to mark the
International Day of Non-Violence and the birthday of India’s ‘Father of the Nation’ on Tuesday 2 October.
The celebration will include the lighting of candles, singing of Hindi hymns and hanging of garlands around the neck of
Gandhi’s statue. The statue was gifted to the city in 2007 by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations on behalf of the
Indian people and stands in the forecourt of the Wellington Railway Station.
Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, Deputy Mayor Ian McKinnon and the chair of the Commemoration Committee, Shree Naginbhai (Neil)
G. Patel will speak at the event.
Other dignitaries and members of the Wellington community will also attend.
Mayor Wade-Brown said, “The Council is delighted to co-host this event, as an expression of our strong support for both
the Indian community here in Wellington and the principles that Mahatma Gandhi stood for – tolerance, non-violence and
universal democracy. Anyone who wants to join this celebration is most welcome.”
Date and time: 12.45-1.45pm, Tuesday 2 October.
Venue: Mahatma Gandhi statue, Wellington Railway Station forecourt
ENDS