Several key events to be held during the official Girmit celebrations

Several key events will be held during the official Girmit celebrations from the 11th to the 15th of this month including plans for eco tourism launches in Navilaca, Rewa and Nukulau, girmit exhibitions for the public at Albert Park, girmit performances and the thanksgiving and national reconciliation service on Sunday May 14th.

Girmit celebrations Chair and Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Sashi Kiran says the celebrations start on May 11th next Thursday with the commemoration of the wreck of the vessel, Syria on 11th May 1884 and the acknowledgment of the vanua of the rescue mission at Navilaca Village in Noco, Rewa. She says Navilaca will be declared a peace village and there will be a plan for an eco tourism launch.

On Friday 12th May, there will be a visit to Nukulau which was the first landing and quarantine site for indentured labourers. There are also plans for an eco tourism launch.

The public girmit exhibition showcasing 144 years of history will be showcased by cultural groups at Albert Park from Friday to Sunday.

There will be traditional food stalls, rides, cooking competitions and arts shows at Albert Park.

There will also be a special program from 7pm to 9pm called Jhankaar Beats featuring girmit compositions and special guest artists.

From 10am to 1pm Saturday 13th May, there will also be a girmit sports program at Albert Park and from 6pm to 9pm, there will be girmit folk performances. On Sunday, the girmit exhibition will continue and there will be Indian cultural performances at Albert Park.

The thanksgiving and national reconciliation service, where the members of the public are also invited, will be held from 2pm to 4pm Sunday May 14th at the Vodafone Arena.

A girmit attire show is also planned from 7pm to 9pm on Sunday.

On girmit day public holiday on Monday May 15th, the girmit parade starts from the Suva Flea market to Albert Park at 8am.

The official program will be held from 9am to 1.30pm.

A girmit conference will also be held on the 12th and 13th of May at USP.