Lord Krishna's birth anniversary celebrated as ‘Janmashtami’, one of the most revered festivals on the Hindu calendar, recently brought together a vibrant congregation of devotees at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Avondale.

More than 1,200 people took part in a day of festivities marked with spiritual fervour, enlightening discourses, lively performances, and the beloved tradition of breaking the 'matki,' symbolising the playful and endearing actions of Lord Krishna during his childhood.

A notable highlight of the September 10 event in Auckland was the presence of Christopher Luxon, the leader of New Zealand's National Party, along with party’s candidates Melissa Lee, Siva Kilari, Dr Carlos Cheung, Navtej Singh Randhawa, Mahesh Muralidhar, and Senthuran Arulanantham, underlining a message of unity and inclusivity.

Chris Luxon being presented a memento by BAPS Trustee Hemat Patel 

In his address to the audience, Luxon expressed his deep pleasure at participating in the Janmashtami celebrations at the BAPS temple. He sincerely appreciated the efforts of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, temple volunteers, trustees, and his esteemed colleagues.

He lauded the selfless service of BAPS in supporting the New Zealand community, stating, "Thank you for the work that you do as a Hindu community and for the valuable contributions that you have made to New Zealand over a long period of time.

“I think you have made New Zealand a much, much better place. It is better economically, it is better socially, and it is better culturally because you have a strong, passionate, and diverse Hindu community making such significant contributions to New Zealand."

As the celebration continued, attendees were keen to share their thoughts on the event and its significance.

Rita Patel, a devotee, said, "Janmashtami is a time of immense joy and spiritual reflection for us. It's heartwarming to see leaders like Mr Luxon and National Party candidates here embracing our culture and celebrating with us. It sends a powerful message of unity and inclusivity. "

Describing the opportunity as a privilege, Navtej Randhawa, National Party's candidate for Panmure-Othauhu, said, "It was great to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our diverse community. My commitment to unity and inclusivity shines bright as I embrace our beautiful traditions. We strive for a New Zealand that thrives on harmony and togetherness. “

Another attendee, Prachi Sharma, expressed, “Events like these showcase the rich diversity of New Zealand, and it's a privilege to be part of such a vibrant celebration.”

 

National’s Spokesperson for ethnic affairs and candidate from Mt Albert Melissa Lee maintained, “It was wonderful to share a meal and engage with those attending.”

The festivities culminated with the sacred ritual of ‘aarti’, symbolising the offering of light to the divine, followed by all attendees partaking in 'mahaprasad’.

Jainesh Patel, BAPS public relations volunteer, told The Indian Weekender, “During his visit, Mr Luxon showed deep reverence, engaging with our community and immersing himself in our rich culture. He took this as an opportunity to forge a closer bond and grow alongside our community.”