Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Rotorua youth to spread colour and happiness
Rotorua youth to spread colour and happiness with the Holi Festival
Holi – the Hindu Festival of Colours – will be celebrated in Rotorua on Sunday, 20 March 2011.
Holi is a festival of fun accompanied by folk songs and dances. People celebrate it by covering each other with coloured powder, and drenching with coloured water. Annual celebration of this colourful festival bridges social and personal differences, bringing people and communities together.
In New Zealand, 21 March is celebrated as the Race Relations Day to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
“Celebrating Holi with different colours and bringing various community groups (especially the youth) together is symbolic of this important international day” said Ms Praneita Narayan, the coordinator of Rotorua Holi Festival 2011.
“Currently, we have youths from the Maori and Hindu community in the organising committee. We invite and welcome youths from other community groups to join us to celebrate this festival with a true community spirit” she added.
The Hindu
Council of New Zealand introduced this Hindu festival to the
Rotorua community last year.
“The support,
participation and positive feedback from last year’s Holi
celebrations encouraged us to continue with this festival in
Rotorua” said Dr Guna Magesan, General Secretary of Hindu
Council of New Zealand.
One of the key objectives is
to encourage youth to not only participate but also learn to
organise events to develop and nourish a community spirit.
This year’s Holi festival will be run by youths – mainly
teenagers from various communities.
The official festival will start at 11.00 am. Food and other stalls will open for the public, where Indian and other ethnic vegetarian food will be available. A number of cultural performances will also take place. From 2.30 to 3.00 pm, people will get an opportunity to indulge in customary revelry with coloured powder and water.
A day before the festival, Hindu Council of New Zealand will be organising a workshop on Mehndi Moko, which is open to public. An opportunity to learn, understand and experience Maori culture and customs will be provided.
This festival is a smoke-free,
alcohol-free and meat-free festival with free entry to the
public. Your family and friends are invited to the Rotorua
Festival of Colours on Sunday, 20 March
2011
Gordon Campbell: On The Hikoi Aftermath
Helen Clark Foundation: Helen Clark Foundation Calls For Political Action To Reduce The Prevalence Of Junk Food And Improve Health Outcomes
Justice Committee: Further Decisions About Submissions Process For The Principles Of The Treaty Of Waitangi Bill
Infrastructure New Zealand: Single Agency Needed To Coordinate Climate Adaptation And Recovery
Free Speech Union: Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill Likely To Restrict Access To Information, Polling Shows Most Oppose
Auckland Transport: Driver Safety Screens Now Rolling Out Across Auckland’s Bus Fleet
People Against Prisons Aotearoa: 'Expect Resistance' - Community Group Pushes Back Against More Cops With Guns
