ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
The Auckland Indian Association (AIA) celebrated the 63rd Independence day anniversary of India at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre on Sunday August 15, with flag hoisting and a cultural entertainment programme. A large crowd of about 500 people attended, including leaders of many different Indian communities and Members of Parliament Pansy Wong and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi.
The flag hoisting was carried out by the chief guest Smt Pushpaben Lekinwala a prominent active member who is a past assistant secretary and the president of Mahila Samaj of the AIA. She was a chairperson for Mahila Forum of the Central NZ Indian Association, a Justice of Peace and a marriage celebrant. For her services to the community she was awarded the Queens Services Medal.
After flag hoisting and saluting the Indian flag the Jhanda Geet and National Anthem was sung followed by short speeches by the President Harshadbhai K Patel, Pushpaben Lekinwala, honourable Pansy Wong the Minister of Ethnic Affairs, Mohammad T Khan the President of Pakistan Association and Paul Singh Bains the President of Central NZ Indian Association.
Mr Khan and Dhiru Patel, the MC, urged the public for generous donations towards the Pakistan flood relief fund.
At the end of formal ceremony, the cultural items were performed by several talented youngsters. The items included Prarthana, Bhajan, Patriotic songs and a variety of dances. The classical, folk and Bollywood dances incorporated beautiful and colourful costumes.
The celebration concluded with a light lunch.
“The spontaneous donations given by the public on the day and forwarded to the President of Pakistan Association amounted to $1250. This amount is set to increase with a further donation from the Auckland Indian Association,” Mr Dhiru Patel told Indian Weekender.
The Auckland Indian Association (AIA) celebrated the 63rd Independence day anniversary of India at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre on Sunday August 15, with flag hoisting and a cultural entertainment programme. A large crowd of about 500 people attended, including leaders of many different Indian...
The Auckland Indian Association (AIA) celebrated the 63rd Independence day anniversary of India at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre on Sunday August 15, with flag hoisting and a cultural entertainment programme. A large crowd of about 500 people attended, including leaders of many different Indian communities and Members of Parliament Pansy Wong and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi.
The flag hoisting was carried out by the chief guest Smt Pushpaben Lekinwala a prominent active member who is a past assistant secretary and the president of Mahila Samaj of the AIA. She was a chairperson for Mahila Forum of the Central NZ Indian Association, a Justice of Peace and a marriage celebrant. For her services to the community she was awarded the Queens Services Medal.
After flag hoisting and saluting the Indian flag the Jhanda Geet and National Anthem was sung followed by short speeches by the President Harshadbhai K Patel, Pushpaben Lekinwala, honourable Pansy Wong the Minister of Ethnic Affairs, Mohammad T Khan the President of Pakistan Association and Paul Singh Bains the President of Central NZ Indian Association.
Mr Khan and Dhiru Patel, the MC, urged the public for generous donations towards the Pakistan flood relief fund.
At the end of formal ceremony, the cultural items were performed by several talented youngsters. The items included Prarthana, Bhajan, Patriotic songs and a variety of dances. The classical, folk and Bollywood dances incorporated beautiful and colourful costumes.
The celebration concluded with a light lunch.
“The spontaneous donations given by the public on the day and forwarded to the President of Pakistan Association amounted to $1250. This amount is set to increase with a further donation from the Auckland Indian Association,” Mr Dhiru Patel told Indian Weekender.
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