Diwali Milan Samaroh 2025

🪔✨BJANZ Diwali Milan Samaroh 2025 – A Grand Celebration of Light, Culture & Togetherness! ✨🪔
The Bihar Jharkhand Association of New Zealand (BJANZ) hosted its spectacular “Diwali Milan Samaroh 2025” at Mount Eden War Memorial Hall, Auckland, drawing a capacity crowd that included numerous Members of Parliament, community leaders, and members of the Bihar Jharkhand community from across New Zealand.
The event was a dazzling celebration of the Festival of Lights, marked by high-profile attendance, vibrant cultural performances, and a profound sense of unity and pride.
A distinguished guest list was led by The Hon Mitchell MP, Minister for Ethnic Communities, who delivered a heartfelt speech, sharing his gratitude to the Indian community for their support during his recent illness. Minister Mitchell praised the event’s focus on heritage, highlighting the importance of young Kiwi-Indian children “reaching back into their culture and where they’re from.”
Other attending dignitaries included:
🌟 Dr. Parmjeet Parmar, MP – who commended BJANZ President Amit Shankar Verma and his team for their leadership, sharing warm Diwali wishes from Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour.
🌟 The Hon. Melissa Lee MP, MP, Ms. Nancy Lu MP, Ms. Rima Nakhle, MP, Dr. Carlos Cheung MP for Mt Roskill, and Mr. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi – all shared their joy and extended festive greetings.
🌟 The Hon. Michael Wood reflected on the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of Bihar, emphasizing its deep links with Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, and praised the community for keeping those timeless traditions alive in New Zealand.
🌟 Mrs. Swagatika Mohanty, wife of Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, Consulate General of India, Auckland, graced the occasion, sharing warm Diwali wishes and appreciation for the community’s cultural spirit.
In his address, Amit Shankar Verma, President of BJANZ, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming turnout:
“This Diwali Milan Samaroh has surpassed all our expectations. Seeing so many distinguished Members of Parliament, community leaders, and families come together is a testament to our shared values of light and unity. This event bridges our rich heritage with our vibrant future in New Zealand.”
Mr. Veer Khar, President of NZICA , also congratulated BJANZ for hosting a remarkable event, praising its contribution to New Zealand’s multicultural landscape.
A memorable highlight of the evening was when MPs, community leaders, and BJANZ members joined together for a joyful group dance, symbolising the true spirit of Diwali — togetherness and celebration. 💃🕺
The event showcased a vibrant tapestry of performances:
🎭 Traditional Bihar Folk Dance
🌅 Chhath Mahaparv portrayals by Kiran Singh and Indu Rajshekharan
🎶 Jharkhand Folk Dance by Aarti Kaushik, Dolly Sharma, Namita Bhardwaj, and Reetu Kumari
🎤 Musical performances by Ranhir Singh, Ashish Das, Om Prakash Jha, and Rachel Das
💃 Bollywood fusion dances by Komal Desai and Nishita & Dhananjay
🕺 Bollywood dance by Kiara and the Mt Roskill Community Group
🎸 A rocking live band act by the Benaam Artists
The success of this celebration was made possible by the dedicated BJANZ Executive Team:
👉 Amit Shankar Verma, Reetu Verma, Rani Singh, Shalini Alok, Preeti Maheshwari, Kiran Singh, Nishant Lal, and Indu Rajshekharan.
💫 And most importantly, our esteemed sponsors for their generous support:
| National Finance | Port of Auckland | Bank of India New Zealand Limited | Travelshop | Malabar Gold and Diamonds | Key 2 Rental | Paras Chaudhary - Real Estate Agent | V-Revive | Unique Beauty & Hair | Shivani Restaurants & Bakery | Taste of Bihar NZ
A special thanks to our Media Partner – The Indian News NZ and Radio Partner – Radio Sadeaala for their incredible coverage and support! 🎙📸
📸✨ Here are some beautiful snapshots capturing the essence of this unforgettable evening — a night of light, laughter, and cultural pride! --- Album 2
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