ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Association also calls for city council to support the Fiji community's event
A colourful Diwali event was organised by the Christchurch Fiji Association or CFCESSA, and was attended by more than 300 people.
Divulging more about the event, Jagat Singh, president of CFCESSA, said, "We have been organising Diwali events for the past 14 years. Earlier we used to get some funding but not anymore. Now the community gets together and organises the event. Hopefully, the city council will start helping us again. If it happens, maybe we will be able to organise the event on a much bigger scale next year."
Meanwhile, the highlight of the event was participants from the Westport-based Buller High School who drove five hours to perform on the occasion. Vinesh Prakash, secretary of CFCESSA, added, “It was the second time that the students, a majority of whom are Kiwis, from Westport, became part of Fiji’s Diwali. There were some Chinese and African participants as well who were part of Fiji’s Jalsa Hip Hop Group. This is a living proof of the multicultural nature of the new New Zealand.”
Meanwhile, Singh, in his message to the gathering, traced the Fiji connection to India. “We are from the Fiji Islands– a multiracial and multicultural country. Yet, each one of us—thousands of miles away from our mother country India, from where our ancestors came—have maintained our own identity by preserving and fostering our language, culture, traditions and religion.”
He ended his speech by explaining the modern context of Diwali.
“In modern times, Diwali is also a reminder of the death of Swami Dayanand who was poisoned on this very day as per the Hindu calendar in 1883. This was probably in retaliation to Swami’s life work of fighting against superstitious beliefs and unnecessary customs. So whether you look at Lord Rama’s life or Swami’s work, Diwali’s spiritual message is to drive out the evil within us and light the lamp of knowledge.”
Association also calls for city council to support the Fiji community's event
A colourful Diwali event was organised by the Christchurch Fiji Association or CFCESSA, and was attended by more than 300 people.
Divulging more about the event, Jagat Singh, president of CFCESSA, said, "We have been...
Association also calls for city council to support the Fiji community's event
A colourful Diwali event was organised by the Christchurch Fiji Association or CFCESSA, and was attended by more than 300 people.
Divulging more about the event, Jagat Singh, president of CFCESSA, said, "We have been organising Diwali events for the past 14 years. Earlier we used to get some funding but not anymore. Now the community gets together and organises the event. Hopefully, the city council will start helping us again. If it happens, maybe we will be able to organise the event on a much bigger scale next year."
Meanwhile, the highlight of the event was participants from the Westport-based Buller High School who drove five hours to perform on the occasion. Vinesh Prakash, secretary of CFCESSA, added, “It was the second time that the students, a majority of whom are Kiwis, from Westport, became part of Fiji’s Diwali. There were some Chinese and African participants as well who were part of Fiji’s Jalsa Hip Hop Group. This is a living proof of the multicultural nature of the new New Zealand.”
Meanwhile, Singh, in his message to the gathering, traced the Fiji connection to India. “We are from the Fiji Islands– a multiracial and multicultural country. Yet, each one of us—thousands of miles away from our mother country India, from where our ancestors came—have maintained our own identity by preserving and fostering our language, culture, traditions and religion.”
He ended his speech by explaining the modern context of Diwali.
“In modern times, Diwali is also a reminder of the death of Swami Dayanand who was poisoned on this very day as per the Hindu calendar in 1883. This was probably in retaliation to Swami’s life work of fighting against superstitious beliefs and unnecessary customs. So whether you look at Lord Rama’s life or Swami’s work, Diwali’s spiritual message is to drive out the evil within us and light the lamp of knowledge.”
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