Several events have been planned for the first week (from December 3 to 5) of the crew's stay in the Garden City
The Indian Navy’s first all-women naval vessel, INSV Tarini – which is part of Navika Sagar Parikrama project where a team of women officers of the Indian Navy would circumnavigate the globe on an Indian built naval vessel – is scheduled to arrive at the Lyttelton Port ( close to Christchurch, and considered as the gateway to Canterbury) on November 28.
And when they do, the High Commission of India in New Zealand, New Zealand Navy and Christchurch City Council are planning a welcoming event for the Indian crew led by Lt Commander Vartika Joshi, and the crew comprises Lt Commanders Pratibha Jamwal and P. Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta.
The High Commissioner of India, Sanjiv Kohli, will be present at the port on Tuesday, November 28, to personally welcome the ship and women-crew in New Zealand.
While the welcoming event may shift by a day or two - depending on the crew's arrival – already confirmed are three events that the Indian community in Christchurch has organised for the Indian Naval officers.
First up on December 3, Sunday, would be the main community event to be held at the Fendelton Community Centre from 7:30 pm. It will be a meet and greet event, with semi-formal or Indian attire with few cultural performances as well.
Then on December 4, the crew will be hosted at an event by the women organisation Shakti.
Next day, on December 5, the crew will be visiting the Ara Institute of Technology and Prebbelton School. At Ara, they will be hosted at the Next Step Centre for Women, where they will interact with students, and share their experiences.
All this is in line with what Mr Sanjiv Kohli, the High Commissioner of India to New Zealand had earlier told The Indian Weekender. “Their visit's essential components will be community interaction, interaction with students, women groups, local dignitaries and New Zealand Navy,” he had said then.