Promoting Culture In Wellington Through Collaboration

Fund Raising & Promoting Culture In Wellington Through Collaboration

Wellington Mutamizh Sangam (WMS) in collaboration with Natraj School of Dance (NSD)donated $3000 to NZ Red Cross Wellington Branch to help them to establish the Wellington Region Emergency Management Team.

The fund was raised through the school’s annual dance production titled “Hari Hara Bhava” held on Sept 24 & 25, 2011in Lower Hutt, Wellington. The fund raised was handed to NZ Red Cross Wellington Branch by the President of WMS, Selva Ramasami and NSD Founder Director Ms. Prabha Ravi in the presence of distinguished guests for the evening Mayor of Hutt Council - His Worship Mayor Wallace, Mervin Singham - Director of Office of Ethnic Affairs and Members of Parliament Katrina Shanks and Paul Quinn. The Chief Guest for the evening was Hon. Hekia Parata - Minister for Ethnic Affairs and Women Affairs.

The Chief Guest for the second evening was The Indian High Commissioner His Excellency Admiral (Rtd) Suresh Metha and Mrs.Metha. The distinguished guests included Members Of Parliament Chris Hipkins and Charles Chauvel. There were representatives from Asia NZ Foundation, arts & community organisations.

Some sixty performers ranging from the age of 5 to over 50 performed in both evenings to the delight of 600 audience.

WMS also had the privilege of hosting internationally renowned musicians from Malaysia - Sitar musician Samuel J Dass and Tabla player Prakash Kandasamy

On arrival they performed at the ART OF LIVING centre in Wellington at the Ganesh Chaturti celebration on Sept. 10. On the next weekend on 17 Sept 2011, they performed at the Multicultural Council of Wellington (MCCW) Cultural Festival -Treasuring Diversity. This multicultural festival was coordinated by WMS committee member and Vice President of MCCW Raveen Annamalai.

Later on the same evening, a sitar concert was held at the Concert Hall of NZ School of Music, Wellington. This concert was organised by WMS in collaboration with Bharat Samaj Wellington and GOPIO Wellington chapter. The guests for this evening recital included Excellencies, The Malaysian High Commissioner and The Iranian Ambassador to NZ. The MC for the evening was Miss India Wellington 2011 Madhumita Ramasubramaniam.

The international artists mesmerised the crowd over hundred music lovers of different ethnicity with their uncanny ability and energy. At the end of the classical performance, three local musicians, a Pakeha , a Maori and a Fiji Indian joined in with the Malaysian artist to perform fusion music which was well received by the audience. The delighted audience gave the musicians a standing ovation to show their appreciation..

The musicians again performed at the NZ Parliament Diwali Celebration on 26 Sept 2011 in the presence of Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Ministers of the Crown, Members of Parliament and around three hundred invited guest. The Director of Office Of Ethnic Affairs provided certificates of appreciation for the international artist in recognition of their support for the Parliament Diwali Celebration. These certificates were later presented to the artists at the Rotorua Deepavali Festival by Todd McClay - Member of Parliament for Rotorua, on behalf of the Minister of Ethnic Affairs who hosted the Parliament Diwali.

Their last sitar performance in Wellington was held at the Hare Krishna Centre on the first day Navarathiri -Wed 28 Sept 2011

On Oct 1, 2011, the international artists performed at the Rotorua Deepavali Festival 2011, organised by NZ Hindu Council and their performance was the highlight of the Rotorua Deepavali Festival cultural programme.

Wellington Mutamizh Sangam is a charitable organisation with the mission to promote Tamil Language and culture was founded three years ago in Wellington. WMS strongly believe in the power of collaboration both with other community organisations and agencies to promote social cohesion and understanding in Wellington and beyond. WMS will be looking for future opportunities for similar collaboration.

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