MPs get in on Deepawali spirit
Deepawali was celebrated at the New Zealand Parliament on Wednesday. Hosted by the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs, chief guest for the occasion was Sir Anand Satyanand, Governor-General of New Zealand.
A number of MPs, including Bill English, Minister of Finance and Acting Prime Minister; Phil Goff, Leader of Opposition; Peter Dunne, Minister of Revenue; Dr Rajen Prasad and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Members of Parliament representing the Indian community and other members representing various political parties were present at the festival.
Deepawali is celebrated not only by Indians but also by Hindus from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Fiji, and South Africa and so on. It was heartening to see some of them representing the Hindu community at the Parliament function.
New Zealand Parliament has been celebrating Deepawali since 2003. In New Zealand, this festival has become very popular and is celebrated in all major cities such as Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Christchurch and tourist centres such as Rotorua, on a large scale. For example, the Maori community is intimately involved in the annual Rotorua Deepawali Festival (http://www.rotoruadeepawali.org/).
The speakers at the Parliament ceremony recognised Deepawali as a festival of religious significance to the Hindu people which is now celebrated by members of all New Zealand communities and religions.
The Governor General greeted everyone with “Namaste, Namaskar, Sat Sri Akal, Kam Cho” and said “this festival has specific spiritual meanings in Hinduism and other religions as a celebration of the victory of good over evil and the release from spiritual darkness”. He added that it is “one of the biggest of the Hindu festivals, and a special time for Indian families and the Indian diaspora around the world”.
The Minister of Ethnic Affairs said that the Deepawali celebrations all over New Zealand had brought the Indian and Hindu culture increasingly into the mainstream of the harmonious and ethnically diverse population that is the strength of New Zealand.
The Minister added that these celebrations were “the showcase of the vibrancy, colour and sound of the ancient culture and modern Bollywood of our Kiwi Indian culture”.
What makes Deepawali so relevant, not just to people of the Hindu religion everywhere, but to all, is that ultimately it symbolises hope, and confirms the victory of righteousness. The Minister also mentioned that it is the celebration of our diverse culture in the open and inclusive way that earns New Zealand its reputation as the most peaceful nation.
Mr English made a request to the ethnic Indian business community to help and work towards the implementation of a Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand.
The festival was well attended by many members of the ethnic Indian community from all over New Zealand. Distribution of sweets to all delegates at the end of the festival was a kind gesture.
The presence of a number of members of the Hindu Council of New Zealand, especially some youth who took part in cultural performance, made the occasion suitably festive!
“It was really a good opportunity to listen to the Ministers and meet with other leaders. I wish more youth participation in such occasions” said Ms Kumuthini Selvaraj, co-ordinator of Hindu Youth New Zealand (Wellington chapter).
“I have been performing classical dances at the Parliament Deepawali for the last few years. It is good to see that important people of New Zealand appreciate our culture,” said Ms Radhika Ravi, a member of Hindu Youth New Zealand (Wellington chapter).
Some suggestions for the future:
An official reception has been held at the New Zealand Parliament since 2003. Instead of following the same pattern each year, it will be ideal to have different themes each year. For example, one theme could be “Youth participation and leadership” (which was the focus of Rotorua Deepawali Festival 2010).
This will give an opportunity for youth leaders from various cities to come together to celebrate Deepawali with the leaders of New Zealand at the Parliament.
Lighting the lamp is auspicious and sacred for the wider Hindu community. In many functions and festivals organised by the Hindu Council of New Zealand, dignitaries are requested to remove their shoes as a mark of respect before lighting the lamp.
This did not happen at the Parliament. Possibly, the Office of Ethnic Affairs needs to hire a learned Hindu advisor who can give culturally appropriate advice. Similarly, the invocation to Lord Ganesha at the start of the proceedings will benefit from the person chanting the religious mantra not wearing shoes as a mark of respect to Lord Ganesha.
The Hindu Council of New Zealand takes this opportunity to thank the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs, and Mervin Singham, Director of the Office of Ethnic Affairs, for inviting the Hindu Council of New Zealand to participate on this occasion.
Deepawali was celebrated at the New Zealand Parliament on Wednesday. Hosted by the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs, chief guest for the occasion was Sir Anand Satyanand, Governor-General of New Zealand. A number of MPs, including Bill English, Minister of Finance and Acting Prime Minister; Phil Goff,...
Deepawali was celebrated at the New Zealand Parliament on Wednesday. Hosted by the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs, chief guest for the occasion was Sir Anand Satyanand, Governor-General of New Zealand.
A number of MPs, including Bill English, Minister of Finance and Acting Prime Minister; Phil Goff, Leader of Opposition; Peter Dunne, Minister of Revenue; Dr Rajen Prasad and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Members of Parliament representing the Indian community and other members representing various political parties were present at the festival.
Deepawali is celebrated not only by Indians but also by Hindus from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Fiji, and South Africa and so on. It was heartening to see some of them representing the Hindu community at the Parliament function.
New Zealand Parliament has been celebrating Deepawali since 2003. In New Zealand, this festival has become very popular and is celebrated in all major cities such as Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Christchurch and tourist centres such as Rotorua, on a large scale. For example, the Maori community is intimately involved in the annual Rotorua Deepawali Festival (http://www.rotoruadeepawali.org/).
The speakers at the Parliament ceremony recognised Deepawali as a festival of religious significance to the Hindu people which is now celebrated by members of all New Zealand communities and religions.
The Governor General greeted everyone with “Namaste, Namaskar, Sat Sri Akal, Kam Cho” and said “this festival has specific spiritual meanings in Hinduism and other religions as a celebration of the victory of good over evil and the release from spiritual darkness”. He added that it is “one of the biggest of the Hindu festivals, and a special time for Indian families and the Indian diaspora around the world”.
The Minister of Ethnic Affairs said that the Deepawali celebrations all over New Zealand had brought the Indian and Hindu culture increasingly into the mainstream of the harmonious and ethnically diverse population that is the strength of New Zealand.
The Minister added that these celebrations were “the showcase of the vibrancy, colour and sound of the ancient culture and modern Bollywood of our Kiwi Indian culture”.
What makes Deepawali so relevant, not just to people of the Hindu religion everywhere, but to all, is that ultimately it symbolises hope, and confirms the victory of righteousness. The Minister also mentioned that it is the celebration of our diverse culture in the open and inclusive way that earns New Zealand its reputation as the most peaceful nation.
Mr English made a request to the ethnic Indian business community to help and work towards the implementation of a Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand.
The festival was well attended by many members of the ethnic Indian community from all over New Zealand. Distribution of sweets to all delegates at the end of the festival was a kind gesture.
The presence of a number of members of the Hindu Council of New Zealand, especially some youth who took part in cultural performance, made the occasion suitably festive!
“It was really a good opportunity to listen to the Ministers and meet with other leaders. I wish more youth participation in such occasions” said Ms Kumuthini Selvaraj, co-ordinator of Hindu Youth New Zealand (Wellington chapter).
“I have been performing classical dances at the Parliament Deepawali for the last few years. It is good to see that important people of New Zealand appreciate our culture,” said Ms Radhika Ravi, a member of Hindu Youth New Zealand (Wellington chapter).
Some suggestions for the future:
An official reception has been held at the New Zealand Parliament since 2003. Instead of following the same pattern each year, it will be ideal to have different themes each year. For example, one theme could be “Youth participation and leadership” (which was the focus of Rotorua Deepawali Festival 2010).
This will give an opportunity for youth leaders from various cities to come together to celebrate Deepawali with the leaders of New Zealand at the Parliament.
Lighting the lamp is auspicious and sacred for the wider Hindu community. In many functions and festivals organised by the Hindu Council of New Zealand, dignitaries are requested to remove their shoes as a mark of respect before lighting the lamp.
This did not happen at the Parliament. Possibly, the Office of Ethnic Affairs needs to hire a learned Hindu advisor who can give culturally appropriate advice. Similarly, the invocation to Lord Ganesha at the start of the proceedings will benefit from the person chanting the religious mantra not wearing shoes as a mark of respect to Lord Ganesha.
The Hindu Council of New Zealand takes this opportunity to thank the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs, and Mervin Singham, Director of the Office of Ethnic Affairs, for inviting the Hindu Council of New Zealand to participate on this occasion.
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