Sanatan Dharma Purohit Brahmin Mahasabha NZ completes 25 years

Auckland based religious organisation Shree Sanatan Dharma Purohit Brahmin Mahasabha NZ celebrated its silver-anniversary in a colourful event on Saturday, February 3.

“This year marks 25th anniversary of our existence in New Zealand – an important landmark - that we wished to celebrate with all our members and the wider community,” Pandit Shradhanand, Secretary of Mahasabha told The Indian Weekender.

The event started with the traditional singing of national anthems of three countries, India, Fiji, and New Zealand, led by Waitakere Hindi School children, who were part of many cultural performances, such as enactment of Ramayan, at the event.

However, a major attraction, and also noted by the Guest of Honour, Hon. Consul of India, Bhav Dhillon during his address at the event, was the skilful use of traditional Indian musical instruments such as tabla, harmonium and dholak, by school children to provide music to the Kiwi national anthem.

“The manner in which our fellow Fiji-Indian brothers and sisters have preserved Indian culture and heritage over the last hundred years is not only commendable but also gives them a special place within the broader global Indian diaspora,” Mr Dhillon said.

“I congratulate President, Secretary and all members of Shree Sanatan Dharma Purohit Brahmin Mahasabha NZ for completing 25 years,” Mr Dhillon said.

"I would also like to acknowledge the great work being done by Waitakere Hindi school in educating our younger generation in Hindi language and Indian culture," Mr Dhillon said. 

Certificates were given to all founding members (and current priests) to recognise their contributions in the organisation over the years.

Expressing rejoices and gratitude for successful completion of twenty years of the organisation Mahasabha President Arish Maharaj told The Indian Weekender, “It was a landmark occasion for us.

“Therefore we decided to celebrate it together by recognising contributions of every founding member, right from the very beginning till now, to acknowledge their efforts in keeping this organisation alive and healthy in NZ.”

The Mahasabha has worked over the years for the maintenance of Sanatan Dharma and Hindu spiritual practice as a whole in New Zealand.

Toward the end, a big cake was cut to mark the 25th-anniversary celebrations, followed by a range of cultural performances and dinner.