ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
In its 16th year now, Culture Galore 2017, held in Christchurch on March 11, had performances and delicious dishes from the Indian subcontinent, with Bharatanatyam Group of Christchurch garnering appreciation from all quarters.
Established 12 years back by a Sri Lankan Tamil, Anuradha Ambalavanar, students from the Bharatanatyam Group of Christchurch—one of the dance schools in the city teaching the classical dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu—performed stuti and Thillana, which was a curtain raiser for its annual dance recital scheduled next month.
Shirish Parajape, a newly elected Fendalton/Waimairi/Harewood community board member, who hails from Mumbai, noted, “The event has grown massively from when it started in 2001, with a big increase in the number of ethnic and cultural groups participating. This year, for example, all the stalls were booked months in advance.
“One of the unique features of Culture Galore is that all the food stalls are managed by community groups and commercial establishments and restaurants are not allowed. Another special feature is that the event is supported by two community boards—the Fendalton/Waimairi/Harewood and Riccarton/Wigram/Halswell boards. Also, due to the proximity of the venue to the University of Canterbury and nearby student accommodations, this event serves well to welcome international students to our multi-ethnic city.”
In all, the event was attended by more than 6,000 people and had representation from more than 70 different ethnic communities living in Christchurch now.
In its 16th year now, Culture Galore 2017, held in Christchurch on March 11, had performances and delicious dishes from the Indian subcontinent, with Bharatanatyam Group of Christchurch garnering appreciation from all quarters.
Established 12 years back by a Sri Lankan Tamil, Anuradha Ambalavanar,...
In its 16th year now, Culture Galore 2017, held in Christchurch on March 11, had performances and delicious dishes from the Indian subcontinent, with Bharatanatyam Group of Christchurch garnering appreciation from all quarters.
Established 12 years back by a Sri Lankan Tamil, Anuradha Ambalavanar, students from the Bharatanatyam Group of Christchurch—one of the dance schools in the city teaching the classical dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu—performed stuti and Thillana, which was a curtain raiser for its annual dance recital scheduled next month.
Shirish Parajape, a newly elected Fendalton/Waimairi/Harewood community board member, who hails from Mumbai, noted, “The event has grown massively from when it started in 2001, with a big increase in the number of ethnic and cultural groups participating. This year, for example, all the stalls were booked months in advance.
“One of the unique features of Culture Galore is that all the food stalls are managed by community groups and commercial establishments and restaurants are not allowed. Another special feature is that the event is supported by two community boards—the Fendalton/Waimairi/Harewood and Riccarton/Wigram/Halswell boards. Also, due to the proximity of the venue to the University of Canterbury and nearby student accommodations, this event serves well to welcome international students to our multi-ethnic city.”
In all, the event was attended by more than 6,000 people and had representation from more than 70 different ethnic communities living in Christchurch now.
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