Following the steps and model of the Kerala Youth Festival held in Kerala, India, the Auckland Malayali Samajam Inc. in Auckland hosted a youth festival for the budding young talents of the community at the Blockhouse Bay Community Centre on Sunday, July 7.
The concept behind hosting the event in New Zealand was to give the children the opportunity to showcase their talents and get them connected with their Malayali roots.
The event started on a high note as the children walked to the stage dressed as soldiers, superhero movie characters, and their favourite game characters for the fancy dress competition. Other children performed various forms of dance divided judging into three parameters reflecting aesthetics sense, characteristic tempo and rhythmic pattern.
One of the best parts of the performances was children singing and performing on Malayali songs, as these children born overseas have very little knowledge of the Malayali cinema and language.
“This youth festival has given an opportunity to exhibit children’s skills and talents in the field of culture, literary and other activities on a common platform which will not only help to facilitate their overall development but also to connect with their ethnic culture," Dr Mary Smitha, who invested a lot of time and effort to prepare the children for the event said.
Auckland Malayali Samajam hosts several events which are of religious, state, cultural and national significance and also youth-oriented events for the community. This 'Youth Festival' is one of such events that promote the Malayali culture, cinema, art, literature etc. These events are attended by the Malayali community from across the city and from places as far as Pukekohe and Bombay Hills in the south.
"The Malayali Samajam is also preparing to organise such events nationwide [across different cities and towns in New Zealand] and trying to get different funding agencies to promote them," AMS Fund manager Dr Michael Manjalloor told The Indian Weekender.
More than 100 children participated and performed in the event inaugurated by Auckland Malayali Samajam President Soman Mathew. AMS Secretary Blessan M Jose welcomed the guests to the event, and Whau Community Arts Broker Melissa Laing distributed certificates to the winners.
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