New Zealand's Indian community embraces interfaith unity
Photo:
Supplied
Hundreds have gathered nationwide from Hindu, Christian and Muslim faiths in recent weeks to celebrate three festivals that reflect the community's commitment to secularism and interfaith unity.
The Hindu festival of Vishu, the Christian commemoration of Easter and the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Fitr typically fall around the same time of year in South Asia.
Christians celebrate Easter to mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, while Muslims celebrate Eid to signify the end of Ramadan - a month of fasting and reflection.
Vishu, meanwhile, is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala with lights, firecrackers and festivities to mark the
beginning of a new year
.
The South Indian community marked these celebrations in New Zealand's major cities with cultural performances, food and live concerts last weekend.
Robin Babu is president of Auckland Malayali Samajam.
Photo:
RNZ / Blessen Tom
In the country's largest city, festivities were celebrated at Mount Albert War Memorial Hall, hosted by Auckland Malayali Samajam.
"We've always tried to bring everyone together and never separate anybody based on religion, colour or anything like that," said Robin Babu, president of Auckland Malayali Samajam.
"Unfortunately, the world is becoming more divided, and we don't want to be part of that. So, we are celebrating these three important festivals together as one family here."
Babu said members performed various cultural and religious art forms to mark Easter, Vishu and Eid.
"At the end of the day, we are all human and that's how the world should be - and, luckily, that's how New Zealand is too," he said.
He said Auckland's Malayali community intended to celebrate the three festivals together in future.
Festivities in Auckland were held at Mount Albert War Memorial Hall, hosted by Auckland Malayali Samajam.
Photo:
RNZ / Blessen Tom
In the capital, celebrations were organised by the Wellington Malayalee Association at Lower Hutt Town Hall on Friday.
Titled "Oruma 2025", meaning "oneness", the event similarly brought together people of different faiths.
"We wanted to celebrate together despite religious differences to showcase the diversity of our community and the unity of the Kerala community and Indians in general," said Meera Muralidharan, secretary of the Wellington Malayalee Association.
"The celebrations began with a khosha yatra - a traditional procession with members wearing ethnic attire - and performing chenda melam (a traditional percussion instrument)," Muralidharan said.
"The procession was the first of its kind in Wellington and we wanted to share a message of oneness regardless of our religion and," said Anwar Vazhachalil, president of Wellington Malayalee Association.
Muralidharan said showcasing unity was particularly important in today's climate.
"With what has happened in Kashmir, it's very important to show the unity of Indians - something we hold very close to our hearts - despite the multitude of religions and cultures we follow," she said, referring to the recent attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left more than two dozen civilians dead.
While the event was planned months before the attack, Muralidharan was pleased the celebration became a day of solidarity for the community.
The Wellington Malayali Association organised a community celebration at Lower Hutt Town Hall on Friday.
Photo:
Supplied
Vazhachalil agreed.
"We're glad we were able to spread this message of unity through our joint celebration of Edi al-Fitr, Easter and Vishu in the capital," he said.
Attendees in Wellington wore traditional clothing and participated in cultural performances representing each faith.
In the South Island, the Christchurch Kerala Association hosted celebrations on Saturday at the Lincoln Event Centre.
"It was a fantastic day with food, music and cultural performances," said Sruthi Jacob, a member of the organising committee.
"We have members who follow many different faiths, and it is wonderful to bring them together," Jacob said.
"Celebrating this uniqueness of diversity and unity is very special, and we're glad we could do it."
Other parts of the country also celebrated in a similar spirit.
The New Plymouth Malayali Association marked Vishu, Easter and Eid on Saturday at Bell Block Hall.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Cultural Forum Christchurch celebrated on 20 April at Riccarton High School.
The Nelson Malayalee Association will host a similar event for the community on 17 May at the Headingly Centre in Richmond.
The Kerala Association hosted a live concert in Christchurch celebrating Easter, Vishu and Eid al-Fitr.
Photo:
Supplied
New Zealand's Telugu-speaking community has also gathered recently to celebrate Ugadi - the Telugu New Year.
Ugadi marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year, recognising a change in the lunar orbit and signalling the advent of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
In Auckland, Ugadi celebrations were organised by the Telangana Association of New Zealand on 4 April at Mount Eden War Memorial Hall, and by the New Zealand Telugu Association on 5 April at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre.
The Tauranga Telugu community gathered on 30 March at Bethlehem Hall to celebrate Ugadi, organised by the Tauranga Telugu Community.
Telugu Association South Island also organised celebrations in Christchurch.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's Sikh community celebrated Vaisakhi, also called Baisakhi, a festival that celebrates the founding of the Sikh community in 1699.
It is a spring festival that is celebrated on the 13 or 14 April each year.
The festival is typically celebrated with nagar kirtans - vibrant street processions where devotees sing hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book.
A procession was held in the South Auckland suburb of Takanini on 15 March, organised by the Supreme Sikh Society and
attended by thousands
.
Another procession was held in Rotorua on 5 April, organised by the Sikh Sangat NZ Trust.
Similar celebrations were held nationwide, including in Hamilton, organised by the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, and in Christchurch, by the Gurdwara Singh Sabha.
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