The festival of light Deepawali was celebrated as Indian Cultural Day at two of the Auckland’s correction facilities last week, showcasing the richness of Indian culture.
The first event was held at the Mount Eden Corrections Facility on Wednesday, November 11, in the presence of over 200 staff and management members.
MECF Corrections Officers Bhangra team with Prison Director Dennis and Senior Management team
The event was organised by Jasjit (Sammy) Singh, National Executive Corrections Associations of New Zealand (CANZ), Corrections Officer Ashlyn Braganza and Interventions Coordinator Shailesh Tiwari sharing India’s rich, diverse culture with staff and management.
The Indian Cultural Day was the first Indian celebration held in the history of NZ prisons that was received overwhelmingly by the staff and members of the Corrections Facility and Prison Director Dennis was invited as the chief guest to this historic event.
Audience at the MECF
“We had a number of performances at the event, started with lighting the Diya (lamp) which an important traditional act for any celebrations and it blesses the event,” Jasjit Sammy told The Indian Weekender.
“NZ prisons have staff from diverse backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities and our Indian Cultural Day event encompassed all Indian diaspora living in New Zealand from places as distinct as India, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji and South Africa.”
Deputy Prison Director Dion at MECF (Left)
“The celebration was pan-Indian, we included cultural performances from different regions such as South India, North India, Western India and others,” Jasjit said, pointing towards the different specifical cultures in different regions of India.
“Some important aspects of the Cultural Day event included singing traditional Indian mantras at the start of the event, a Garba dance performance by senior citizens from Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust and a video on Bollywood cinema showing only different facets of India’s popular cinema industry that provides entertainment to millions of people all around the world,”
Ladies from Shanti Niwas at the MECF
The event at the Mount Eden Corrections Facility concluded with the singing of the Shloka ‘Om Shanti Om’ a prayer for the wellbeing of everyone present at the venue.
The second event, Diwali celebrations, was held on Friday, November 13 at the Auckland Prison in Paremoremo organised by Interventions Co-ordinator Anita Raj and Education Tutor Nicci Garcia.
Staff and management at Auckland Prison in Paremoremo
There were over 150 staff members of the Corrections Facility attending the event with Prison Director Dave as the chief guest.
Some of the performances delivered at the Paremoremo Prison included classical Indian Kathak Dance, a bhangra performance, and the attendees were given an opportunity to see the glimpse of the popular laughter yoga therapy at the event.
Diwali celebrations at the Auckland Prison in Paremoremo
“A number of other small Diwali celebrations also took place at Community Corrections (probation) sites, Jasjit said.
“Corrections’ 10,000 staff members represent a wide range of cultures and ethnicities from all over the world.
Assistant Prison Director Simon at the event (Left)
“The Department of Corrections’ policy of diversity and inclusion embraces celebrations such as Diwali, and goes hand in hand with Corrections’ core value of manaaki [respect],” says Jasjit.
Jasjit added that Corrections offers rewarding career opportunities to people from all cultures and backgrounds. For more information, visit https://careers.corrections.govt.nz