India’s 77th Republic Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervour across several locations in New Zealand, including official events held at the Indian High Commission in Wellington and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Auckland. These celebrations brought together members of the Indian diaspora, community leaders, and distinguished guests to commemorate this important national occasion.
The official ceremony in Wellington took place at the Chancery building of the Indian High Commission and was led by the outgoing High Commissioner of India to New Zealand, Her Excellency Neeta Bhushan. In Auckland, the celebrations were presided over by the Consul General of India, His Excellency Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre. Both events witnessed a strong turnout from the Indian community, along with the presence of several prominent community leaders and political representatives.
The Auckland event saw an especially large gathering, partly due to 26 January falling on a Monday, which is observed as a public holiday in Auckland to mark Auckland Anniversary Day. The program at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre commenced at 10:00 a.m. with the ceremonial hoisting of the Indian national flag by Consul General Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, accompanied by his wife, Swagatika Sethi, and other dignitaries present on the occasion. Consul General of Japan in Auckland, Shinji Matsui, and his wife graced the occasion with their presence.
The flag hoisting was followed by the singing of the Indian National Anthem and spirited chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram,” which echoed through the venue amid resounding applause from the audience. This was followed by the address of the President of India, read out by the Consul General. The address highlighted India’s significant progress over the past decade and more, underscoring the nation’s growth and achievements under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and India’s emergence as a strong and influential presence on the global stage.
After few brief ceremonial speeches by invited dignitaries, the celebrations continued with a vibrant cultural program. The performances included classical and contemporary dance routines, patriotic songs, and presentations showcasing the rich cultural diversity of various Indian states through music, dance, and drama.
Among the dignitaries present were Members of Parliament Parmjeet Parmar, Jenny Salesa, and Dr. Carlos Cheung, along with numerous community leaders such as Bhav Dhillon, Veer Khar, Jyoti Parashar, Anurag Rasela, Sunny Kaushal, Sudesh Jhunjhunuwala, Jeet Suchdev, Raj Pradeep Singh, Bala Biram, Siva Kilari, and several invited leaders and officials from the wider Kiwi community.
The celebrations concluded on a warm and convivial note with a sumptuous vegetarian lunch served to all attendees, bringing a memorable and dignified Republic Day celebration to a close.
-Yugal Parashar