Indian Community Commemorates 79th Independence Day in New Zealand

The Indian community across New Zealand celebrated India’s 79th Independence Day on August 15, 2023, with a series of events highlighting cultural ties and national pride. Gatherings took place in major cities, including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Palmerston North, featuring flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural performances that brought together over 400 participants at the Indian High Commission in Wellington.

Cultural Celebrations and Community Unity

The celebration in Wellington included the hoisting of the Indian national flag by Neeta Bhushan, the High Commissioner of India to New Zealand. She read excerpts from the annual address delivered by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, emphasizing the significance of independence and democracy. Students from the Wellington Hindi School and Khandallah School performed patriotic songs, while dance troupes from the Shivam Dance Academy, Sri Chakra School of Fine Arts, and Wellington Marathi Association showcased their talents.

In Auckland, celebrations were led by Madan Mohan Sethi, the Consul General of India, who expressed his hopes for a new era of friendship between New Zealand and India. Veer Khar, President of the New Zealand Indian Central Association, urged the community, now the third largest in New Zealand, to unite and advocate for greater political representation.

Members of the current New Zealand Parliament of Indian origin, Priyanca Radhakrishnan and Parmjeet Parmar, reflected on their heritage. Radhakrishnan stated, “Today we celebrate the value of democracy – something worth fighting for,” while Parmar remarked, “For me and my family, both India and New Zealand are home.”

Community Engagement and Culinary Events

Whangarei Mayor Vince Cocurullo attended the Auckland event and announced plans to host part of the celebrations in his district next week. The Whangarei District Council and the Indian Consulate will hold a business meeting and culinary showcase on August 18, further enhancing community engagement.

The opening of the Indian Consulate General in Auckland in September 2022 has contributed to larger and more vibrant celebrations this year. Sethi mentioned that festivities would include a multi-city, multi-day Indian festival titled “The World and Us,” focusing on shared cultural values, cuisine, and commerce. Events are scheduled from August 15 to 18 in Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton, and Whangarei.

On the culinary front, an Indian food festival commenced on Auckland’s North Shore, featuring renowned chefs Satyanarayana Pandari and Anuj Mathur, who prepared signature dishes like Hyderabadi biryani and Bengali fish curry. Two culinary educators from India, Prem Ram and Suprabhat Banerjee, emphasized the importance of food diplomacy between the two nations, noting that Indian cuisine’s diversity can blend with fresh New Zealand ingredients.

In an exciting twist, a friendly Masterchef competition featuring both Indian and New Zealand chefs will take place on Saturday, including a mystery box challenge. Additional cultural evenings are planned at Dew Drop Events Centre in Auckland and at the Waikato Indian Association Hall in Hamilton on August 16 and August 17, respectively. These events, which are free to the public, will feature performances by one of India’s top singers, Shibani Kashyap, and include a special cross-cultural fashion show curated by Whiria Collective and India’s CD Foundation.

The celebrations reflect a strong sense of community and a commitment to strengthening ties between India and New Zealand through cultural exchange and shared experiences.