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The previous weekend for Auckland Central was quite eventful, for two key reasons. Firstly, because it was Matariki, and secondly, the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Aotearoa New Zealand in the 21st century. Indeed, befitting a globally influential leader, H.E. Shri Narendra Modiji, Aotearoa did a splendid job, hosting a Manuhiri (guest), on the whare (home), by the Haukāinga (hosts).
I began my Matariki with the annual whāngai i te Hautapu Ā-Motu ceremony at the Ngāti Whātua Marae at Takaparawhau, heralding the rise of the Matariki stars, culminating in the partaking in the hangi from te umu kohukohu whetū, (the steaming earth oven of the stars). Matariki is a solemn time to gather, remember the times, and those who have passed, and look ahead to the year to come, with a hope for unity, solidarity, and onward with progress and prosperity. This phase of spiritual rejuvenation coincides with the sanctity of the current Ashadam month of the Hindu lunisolar calendar, during which the Jagannatha Rath Yatra, the Amarnath Yatra, Pandharpur Wari, Bonalu, among other Hindu spiritual journeys, are celebrated as shared destinations of spiritual significance, in the spirit of Tamaki Herenga Waka, the mooring point of many canoes.
In retrospect to Modiji’s Matariki visit, the trajectory of Bharat-Aotearoa relations has resembled a grand Pōwhiri. At the Te Wero (challenge) stage, the trade talks began with a degree of scepticism, followed by Te Karanga (and kaikaranga) calls as we reflected on a hundred-year shared journey by our predecessors and present peers in this marae ātea (forecourt) of mutual understanding. After rounds of Whaikōrero (speeches) and Waiata (songs) of formal negotiations, they were concluded with a Hongi and Harirū, symbolising the physical top-level visits of delegations in both directions. Navigating the India-New Zealand strategic relationship from a tapu (restricted) state of trade to an elevated noa (safer) state of official Strategic Partnership, was a collective paradigm effort by everyone involved over the decades. From the bipartisan top-tier political support, to the 5.8% Kiwi-Indian demographic, who have assimilated across, and enriched Aotearoa by contributing 8.6+% of Aotearoa’s GDP, and herenga(converging) over the mega finale on the weekend at Spark Arena, everyone has played their important part and has earned the Hākari (shared feast).
Those who witnessed Modiji’s grand reception this weekend had our own individual perspectives. For me, it was the paradigm shift in perception of our ancient Hindu heritage from a label of “Vishwaguru” (teacher to the world), which we indeed deserve, to a culture of seeking and learning, when we are on this whenua (land/sphere) seeking lessons from the world’s youngest indigenous culture. Citing his reflections from Te Ao Māori, Modiji has demonstrated his Gurudakshina to the Haukāinga.
His Auckland speech quotes about bridging Hindu-Māori metaphysical references resembled the grand ancient traditional model of Hindu learning of purva-paksha/uttara-paksha methodology, which is the cornerstone of classical Hindu discourse, from ancient jurisprudence to metaphysical reflections. What was quoted at Spark Arena was the crystallised Siddantha.I humbly opine that Modiji had been the biggest global ambassador of Te Ao Maori over the Matariki weekend, looking at the social media analytics of his quotes from his Auckland speeches.
Modiji’s biggest success formula, is being grounded, literally, politically and virtually, to his original vision, something which our own democracy can continue to learn from, and may I say, when we see a certain degree of indigenous revivalism and confident assertion in solidifying our shared journeys as indigenous cultures, as Bharat and Aotearoa, I do see more commonalities in our mutual exceptionalism.
In the spirit of Matariki Herenga Waka, I hope to see our fellow Kiwi-Hindus attend, acknowledge, and celebrate future Matariki hautapu events with the local iwi and tauiwi, and manuhiri/athithi/guests, and make Matariki a shared, blessed experience.
Kia kotahi rā! United and onward!
He Waka eke noa. We are all in this together.-by CVR Shastri