Indian Community Marks 79th Independence Day with Nationwide Celebrations

The Indian community in New Zealand celebrated India’s 79th Independence Day on August 15, 2023, with a series of vibrant events held across the country. Flag hoisting ceremonies took place in major cities, including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Palmerston North, honoring India’s historic achievement of independence from British rule in 1947.

At the Indian High Commission in Wellington, over 400 attendees gathered for the celebrations. The High Commissioner of India to New Zealand, Neeta Bhushan, hoisted the Indian National flag and shared excerpts from the annual address of Indian President Droupadi Murmu. The gathering featured patriotic songs and cultural performances by students from the Wellington Hindi School and Khandallah School.

Community Engagement and Political Representation

The celebrations underscored the importance of unity within the Indian community, now the third largest ethnic group in New Zealand. During the Auckland event, Madan Mohan Sethi, the Consul General of India, expressed optimism about a new era of friendship between New Zealand and India. Veer Khar, President of the New Zealand Indian Central Association, called on the community to advocate for greater political representation.

Two Members of Parliament of Indian origin, Priyanca Radhakrishnan and Parmjeet Parmar, reflected on their cultural roots. Radhakrishnan emphasized the value of democracy, stating, “Today we celebrate the value of democracy – something worth fighting for.” Parmar added, “For me and my family, both India and New Zealand are home.”

The mayor of Whangārei, Vince Cocurullo, who participated in the Auckland celebrations at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre, announced plans to host part of the festivities in his district the following week. A business meeting and culinary showcase, organized by the Whangārei District Council and the Indian Consulate, is scheduled for August 18.

Cultural Exchange and Culinary Delights

This year’s celebrations are particularly significant due to the recent establishment of an Indian Consulate General in Auckland. Sethi mentioned, “We are organizing a multi-city, multi-day Indian festival titled ‘The World and Us’, focusing on shared values of culture, cuisine, and commerce between India and New Zealand.” The events will continue until August 18, with activities planned in Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton, and Whangārei.

One highlight of the festivities is an Indian food festival at Auckland’s North Shore, featuring renowned chefs from India, Satyanarayana Pandari and Anuj Mathur. They prepared signature dishes such as Hyderabadi biryani and Bengali fish curry. Culinary educators from India, Prem Ram and Suprabhat Banerjee, emphasized the potential for strengthening food diplomacy between the two nations. “Indian cuisine is so diverse it can be combined with any other cuisine of the world,” Ram noted.

Looking ahead, a friendly Masterchef competition is scheduled for Saturday, where Indian and New Zealand chefs will engage in a mystery box challenge. Additionally, cultural evenings will take place at Auckland’s Dew Drop Events Centre on August 16 and at the Waikato Indian Association Hall in Hamilton on August 17. These events will feature performances from one of India’s top singers, Shibani Kashyap, and a cross-cultural fashion show curated by Whiria Collective and India’s CD Foundation.

The celebrations of India’s Independence Day in New Zealand not only honor cultural heritage but also foster community connections and highlight the growing ties between India and New Zealand.