Auckland: The ninth Multicultural Dance Festival has been held in Auckland with the aim of promoting mutual understanding, harmony and cultural exchange among the diverse ethnic and cultural communities living in New Zealand.
Organised by the Nepalese Cultural Centre New Zealand, the festival featured performances by 46 groups representing different countries and communities living across New Zealand. Each group showcased its unique art, traditional dances and cultural heritage.
Communities from Nepal, China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Russia, India and several other countries presented traditional dances, costumes, music and cultural performances. Bringing such a wide range of cultures together on a single stage made the festival a vibrant reflection of New Zealand’s multicultural identity.
The event attracted a significant number of people from different nationalities as well as members of the local community. New Zealand Members of Parliament, police officers, local community representatives and representatives of various cultural organisations also attended the festival.
Participants said the event provided an excellent opportunity to experience and understand different cultures at close range and highlighted the importance of cultural diversity in building stronger relationships among communities in New Zealand.
New Zealand MP Carlos Cheung, who attended the event, expressed solidarity with those affected by the devastating floods in Nepal. He wished for the safe and swift recovery of those who remain missing and a speedy recovery for those injured in the disaster.
Cheung said he shared the pain of the people affected by the disaster and emphasized that New Zealand stands with Nepal.
He said bringing people from different backgrounds, languages, religions and cultures together on one platform plays an important role in promoting mutual respect and understanding. Such programmes, he said, help strengthen relationships among the diverse communities living in New Zealand.
“I am very happy that, alongside the growing presence of Nepalis in New Zealand, their art and culture have also been successfully promoted,” he said.
He also described the Multicultural Dance Festival as an important platform for introducing Nepal and Nepali culture to New Zealand’s wider multicultural society.
Nepali participants said the festival provided an opportunity to share their traditional art, culture and heritage with other communities, while also allowing people from different backgrounds in New Zealand to learn more about Nepal’s rich cultural diversity.
Albert, a Vietnamese participant at the event, said the festival was a valuable opportunity for people from migrant communities to promote their own cultures while learning about the art and traditions of others.
“It is a great opportunity for those of us who have come from different countries to promote our own culture and learn about the art and culture of other communities,” he said.
The festival also included an effort to support families affected by the devastating floods in Nepal. Participants and guests made financial contributions towards relief efforts and expressed solidarity with Nepalis affected by the disaster.
The Nepalese Cultural Centre New Zealand has been organizing the Multicultural Dance Festival annually since 2016. What began with the aim of bringing different ethnic communities in New Zealand together on a common platform has gradually developed into an important cultural event promoting multiculturalism and community connections.
According to Centre President Kalam Prasad Shrestha, the organization has continued the festival with the objective of introducing Nepal’s art, culture and cultural identity to Kiwis and other communities living in New Zealand, while strengthening relationships and understanding among different communities.
He said cultural diversity is an important part of New Zealand’s identity and that programmes such as the festival are becoming increasingly effective in creating an environment where people can understand and respect each other’s cultures.
He added that when communities from different countries showcase their cultures, it also provides younger generations with an opportunity to remain connected to their own cultural identity while learning about the traditions of others.
The various cultural dances and performances presented at the festival not only entertained the audience but also provided an opportunity to learn about the history, traditions and lifestyles of different communities living in New Zealand.
