Hundreds of Indians and indo-Fijians witnessed various cultural performances at the Festival of India Cultural Show celebrated by the High Commission of India, Suva at the Suva Civic Centre.
There was a variety of Bollywood music performances by the A.R Devine, a group from India, Bharatnatyam and Jugalbandhi by the Mohiniyattam Dance Group from Kerala, a performance by the Bridge Folk Dance Group and Bhangra by the Bhangra Folk Dance Group.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations Agni Deo Singh says India has been Fiji’s tower of strength in terms of assisting Fiji in a number of areas including education and scholarships, higher education, agriculture, sugar industry, medicine, information technology, culture and arts.
Singh says he was a proud son of the Girmitiyas who came to Fiji in the indentured labour system.
The Minister says about 40 percent of those who came to Fiji decided to go back to India after they completed their Girmit.
He stresses the contribution the remaining 60 percent of Girmitiyas made to the development of Fiji and building the economy can not be expressed in words or measured.
Singh also says the descendants of the Girmitiyas in Fiji enjoy a wonderful relationship with the indigenous iTaukei and they have learnt about each other after mingling well.
He adds he is fortunate the wonderful people amongst the indigenous iTaukei who have accepted the descendants of the Girmitiyas as their own.
Also present at the event were the Assistant Miniter for Finance Esrom Immanuel, Assistant Minister for Rural and Maritime Development Joseva Vocea, Fiij’s High Commissioner to India Kamlesh Prakash and Opposition Whip Alvick Maharaj.
