New Zealand Diwali Brochure
A unique Diwali celebration was witnessed in Wellington on 14th October 2012 in Wellington. International tertiary students from universities and polytechs with able support from school students in Wellington region, organised and participated in the Deepawali Lunch at the New Zealand Police Headquarters at Molesworth Street. The event was held under the banner of New Zealand Hindu Students Forum, a division of the Hindu Council of New Zealand. Participants represented a diversity of nationalities, including New Zealand, Malaysia, Nepal, Fiji, South Africa, Vietnam, Syria, and of course India.
A highlight of the event was Mr S K Verma, from the Indian High Commission based in Wellington, launched a Diwali Brochure (a guide to official functions). Diwali has now become a major international celebration in an increasingly diverse world. The guide concisely captures the culture and history behind the Hindu festival of Deepawali, and provides culturally appropriate advice for official Diwali functions. The guide is now also available from the New Zealand Human Rights Commission’s website here.
More than 80 students from universities, polytechs, and schools from Wellington region and from Palmerston North participated in this event. The event was opened by the chief guest, deputy mayor of the city, Hon Ian McKinnon, who himself is a renowned academic. The New Zealand Police headquarters as the venue for the function was facilitated by Inspector Rakesh Naidoo, the first immigrant police personnel in New Zealand to achieve the rank of an Inspector.
Ms Rudri Vyas, a young immigrant Wellington schoolgirl led the gathering in mantra invocation. Ms Monika Shukla, a recent immigrant and a student from Hutt intermediate based her speech on Diwali on the brochure that Mr. Verma had launched. A culturally sensitive organisation that wishes to organise a Diwali party will be benefitted from the guidelines provided in the brochure. For example, sharing vegetarian sweets is a common practice. When mantras are invoked/ oil lamps lit at the start of the function, it is a mark of respect to the culture and tradition of at least 4000 years behind Diwali that those who are lighting the lamp take off their shoes.
To stimulate a support network for international students and to keep them informed on the opportunities that New Zealand provides; a number of government agencies conducted interactive sessions with the students present. These included immigration department employees, Ms Ruth Woodward and Ms Stephanie Gilchrist. Dr. Mrs. S Latha Vasan from Hindu Council of New Zealand and Hutt Hospital talked about health issues with particular reference to female students. Inspector Rakesh Naidoo and his colleagues from the New Zealand Police provided tips on avoiding mishaps, and encouraged those present to consider a career with NZ Police. Inspector Naidoo specifically encouraged
more women from ethnic communities to enter the Police force since they bring in culturally appropriate skills that are very high in demand when the Police deal with ethnic communities. Dr Pushpa Bharadwaj-Wood conducted an interactive session where students raised concerns they had and voiced their views. Settlement Support Coordinators from Lower Hutt and Wellington, Ms. Vesna West and Ms Marilen Mariano, and Office of Ethnic Affairs representative Ms. Huong Nguyen provided information to students during these sessions. Students Ms Tanvi Sharma-Thomas and Ms Sadhana Shrestha presented dance performances from classical Hindu and folk Nepal traditions. Member of Parliament Mr. Kanwaljeet Singh Bakshi struck a chord with the students by his speech in Hindi as well as English. A culturally appropriate vegetarian (no meat, fish, or poultry) lunch was served at this free event.
Event coordinator, Mr Udbhav Ojha said that it was heartening to see the response from tertiary students for an event organised for the first time in Wellington. “The speakers covered a range of topics of concern to international students and we hope to organise more such events in future”, added Mr Ojha, a PhD student from Victoria University of wellington.
“An increasing number of Diwali celebrations around the country represent the positive progress of New Zealand towards an unparalleled diversity. We do note the increase in the number of enquiries for culturally appropriate celebrations”, said Dr Rajiv Chaturvedi from Hindu Council of New Zealand. “While larger public Diwali celebrations around the country, in Rotorua, Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch and Wellington, to our knowledge, were organised culturally appropriately, Hindu Council of New Zealand is available to give culturally appropriate advice to any organisation celebrating the Hindu festival of lights.”
The primary aim of this unique event was to bring to the students that there are people out there to help and support them. It was proposed during the discussions that we continue this approach of networking around events. The next major forthcoming event was announced for Lower Hutt in March- the festival of colours, Holi. Those who wish to be part of the organising committee in the spirit of “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam” (the world is one family) are welcome to contact us on the hinduyouth.nz@gmail.com.
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