Ruchika Agarwal
Auckland, August 18, 2017
Hundreds of men, women and children were present at Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan in Onehunga, Auckland on Sunday, August 13, 2017 to mark the 70th Anniversary of India’s Independence.
A cross-section of communities were present at the event Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust and Roopa Aur Aap Charitable Trust.
Multiethnic guests
Among them were Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Melissa Lee, Dr Parmjeet Parmar (National), Jenny Salesa, Michael Wood (Labour), Mahesh Bindra (New Zealand First), Judge Ajit Swaran Singh, New Zealand People’s Party Leader Roshan Nauhria, Auckland Council Puketapapa Local Board Chair person Harry Doig, Bhartiya Samaj Patrons Dr Bruce Hucker, Dr Ashraf Choudhury, Auckland City Police District Commander Superintendent Karyn Malthus Asian Liaison Officer Jessica Phuang, Counties Manukau Police South Asian Liasion Officers Sergeant Gurpreet Arora and Contable Satveer Sen and Waitamata Police District Constable Mandeep Kaur.
Associations join
One of the highlights of the programme that has been held by Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust for the past 21 years is the presence and participation of a large number of Indian associations. This year’s event attracted people from the greater Auckland region and Hamilton.
The celebrations started with Ami Chand, Trustee of the Pacific Events and Entertainment Trust hoisting the Indian National Flag.
A number of songs and dances were performed thereafter.
The Performers
The groups that performed included Bhartiya Samaj Senior Citizens, Bollywood Beats Academy, Bhartiya Samaj Bal Vikas School, Bollywood Bhangra Group, Mt Roskill Community Centre Bollyood Dance Group, Chotte Sikke, New Zealand Kannada Koota, Auckland Marathi Association, Probasse Bengali Cultural Group, Punjabi Cultural Association, Creation group, Garba by Gujarati Samaj New Zealand, BAPS Swami Narayan, Senior Purshottam Merai Ji, Women Care Trust and Dr Nilima Upadhyay Patriotic Group.
Ruchika Agarwal is the Public Relations Officer of Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust.
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Photo Caption:
- Jeet Suchdev, Chairman, Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust and Roopa Suchdev, Chairperson, Roopa Aur Aap Charitable Trust with performers at the event
- Pictures (supplied) here depict performers at the event.
