Wesak Day Celebration at Darling Harbour.

Wesak Day which is Buddha's Birthday was celebrated over two days at Darling Harbour, Sydney on the 8th and 9th of May. The celebration was combined with the multicultural function with performance and food fair. It was a sea of colours.

Happy Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone.

May peace and love, understanding and forgiving, caring and sharing continue to prevail and everyone attain an awe-inspiring virtue and ocean of prosperity.

虎年快樂 威德福海

For this New Year and the coming years, I like to share the following eight secrets of longevity with every one.

1. Eat Well. Cut down on salty, sweet and fatty foods. And add lots of colourful fruits and vegetables to your diet.

2. Regular Exercise. Exercise on the regular basis to keep physically healthy.

3. Relaxation lowers blood pressure, eases muscle tension and promotes sleep. Taking it easy also helps combat fatigue, which is the first noticeable symptom of all chronic disease.

4. Take an annual Holiday. Holiday allows one to break from the normal routine, to do something different. It need not be expensive, but it is a period away from routine.

5. Being socially active. Studies show that people with good, active social lives have less depression, stronger immune systems and a much lower incidence of heart disease.
Keep the Mind Active.

6. Manage Stress. Continue to work to keep the body and mind busy. Manage work stress with self-discipline, time management, procedures or a decreased expectation. If the stress is overwhelming, it is time to retire.

7. Reduce weight and quite smoking if this is applicable to you.

8. And the most important, have a positive attitude towards everything.

Happy New Year

The Aussies say "No worry, be happy." There is happiness in the land of no worry.

Visit to Ruapotaka Marae

Kia ora (Hi, hello)

Yesterday (31-10-09), a group of about 100 students from Te Wananga o Aotearoa spent a day in Ruapotaka Marae as part of the course requirement. It was a very colourful and rewarding learning experience for me and i totally enjoyed the Maori culture and hospitality extended to us.

We gathered at the entrance to the Marae compound at 8.30 am and was briefed by the official of the Tikanga (Protocols) of the marae .We are not allowed to eat, and drink inside the meeting house and also not allowed to smoke within the compound surrounding the marae. I enquired and was told not to take photos inside the meeting house while the powhiri or welcoming ceremony is carried out. I was rather disappointed but have to respect the hosts.

The term marae describes a communal "plaza" area that includes a wharunei (meeting house) and a wharekai (dinning room). It provides a focus for social, culture and spiritual life for the Maori community. Going onto the marae means entering into an encounter situation, where challenges are met, and issues are debated. All new comers to the marae must be greeted formally by the tangata whenua (hosts).

There is a standard dress code for the powhiri (welcoming or ritual ceremony) where women usually wear a long black skirt and black top and men long black trousers and a shirt.

Collection of koha (gift) took place prior to the powhiri on to the marae. In the days of old, food was given as a koha, but nowadays monetary koha is the norm with no set amount of money where people can contribute what they can afford, no matter how small it may be.

We were asked to assemble and line up at the entrance (signify to the hosts that we are ready to enter the marae) with women standing in front and the men behind the women (signify that we come in peace and men as the protectors).

A kai karanga (caller) of the tangata whenua (hosts) then began to call the manuwhiri (visitors) on to the marae. This is the first voice that is heard. When the karanga (call) begins, the kai karanga (caller) of our visiting group proceeded on to the marae (we followed slowly) and responded with karanga also. When moving to be seated, the front rows of the seating were reserved for the kai korero (speakers) and the elder men and the next row for the kai waiata (singers) and elder women. The remaining seats were occupied by the rest of the adults. The group waited until the front rows were seated before sitting.

Once everyone has been seated , the whakorero (formal proceedings) commenced. The kaumatua (elder on the marae) then spoke followed by a waiata (song) sung by the kai waiata (singers) to compliment and support what the speaker has said. This is followed by our speaker and singers. The whaikorero then alternated between the tangata whenua (hosts) and the manuwhiri (visitos) kai korero (speakers). This manner of giving speeches is known as Tau-utu-utu (alternating speeches). The other variance is known as Paeke oratory style which refers to the kai korero speaking in a block rather than alternating speakers.

At the conclusion of the whaikorero the last kai korero (speaker) of our visiting group laid the koha on the floor in front of the hosts side. After the visiting group have sung their waiata and seated, a lai karanga of the tangata whenua side acknowledged the manuwhiri by way of karanga (call) for the gift. A kai korero of the tangata whenua side then moved forward to pick up the koha and acknowledged also the manuwhiri for their gift.

Following the oratory, we then move towards the hosts to greet them with the hongi (pressing of noises). The significance of the hongi is that it acknowledges a person spiritually, physically and genealogically.

After the powhiri, a kai karanga of the tangata whenua performed a karanga to let us know to make our wau to the whare kai (dinning room) to have our morning tea.Thereafer, we proceeded to attend three separate workshops on Powhiri (welcoming ceremony), Flax Weaving and Maori Songs and Haka" . For Powhiri workshop, we were divided into a small group of 5 or 6 people where we have to do a mind-mapping of the powhiri we attended earlier and a representative from each group has to give a talk on their group's findings.

Raranga Harakere or flax weaving is interesting. We were told on various varieties of flax and the things/objects which can be made from flax weaving such as piupiu (skirt), kete (bag), tipari (headband) and many others. We were taught to create flower from the flax. The blades of the harakeke (flax) plant and its tightly entwined roots epitomize its inner strength and tenacity. Harakere embodies the spiritual beliefs of Maori people symbolizes the whanau (family), hapu (sub tribe) and iwi (tribe) and evokes strong feelings of unity and togetherness. There are certain protocols or restrictions in the gathering, preparing and eventual weaving of the fibers eg "do not cut in the rain or at night", 'do not step over flax or unfinished work", "no eating or drinking while weaving" "women during their "moontime" (menstrual periods) should not go near the harakere", etc.....

The Maori song and haka were also very challenging and movement of hands and legs are an important part of the act.

For lunch, a representative of the elder blessed the food and we began to enjoy the hot hangi served to us.We were told that the ringawera started to prepare the Maori hangi since the afternoon before yesterday). After we have finished our meals, our three representatives stood up to give three separate speeches (English & Chinese) to thank the ringawera (the people who prepared the meal) and the people of the marae for their hospitality followed by songs (English & Chinese) sung by us to support our spkeakers. This brings the formalities to a close. After lunch we proceeded to the compound to do the Maori song and Haka which we learned yesterday morning during the workshop .We also took group photos and interacted among all participants and hosts. A closing ceremony was held in the marae where participants talked on their experience for the day and acknowledged the hospitality by the hosts. It ended at about 3.00 pm.

During the day, i also came across some Maori words which are similar to Malay words eg "terlinga" for ear and "tua" for old or elder. There are also other tikanga (protocols) practices on the marae like "do not sit on pillows", 'do not sit on tables", "sitting appropriately", "taking off shoes" "switching off mobile".......

Hei konei ra (Goodbye)

Please click on photo to enlarge

Posted by H T Yeoh on 1st Nov 2009 Sunday

Diwali, the Festival of Lights in Auckland

The settled people of Indian origin in New Zealand, especially in Auckland may not miss their country of birth as much as they did say over a decade ago. This is because more and more Indian festivals have been organised and celebrated by the local Indian communities over the years. Among the Hindu festivals, Diwali was/will be celebrated in great scale in various parts of Auckland as follows :
- Manukau (south Auckland) on 3rd Oct 09
-Waitakere (west Auckland) on 4th Oct 09
-Auckland CBD on 10th & 11th Oct 09
-Kohimarama ((east Auckland) on 25th Oct 09

The word "Diwali" is the reform of the Sanskrit word "Deepavali" which is popularly known in Malaysia. Deepa means light and Avali means a row. It means a row of lights and indeed illumination forms its main attraction. It has great cultural, moral and religious significance to Hindu and is a symbol of all that is good and virtuous.

However, over the years as people of Indian origin settled in greater number, Diwali has transformed into more of a social event in Auckland and people of all walks of life look forward to this joyous occasion.

The Manukau libraries celebrated Diwali with Indian costume demonstrations, a jewellery workshop, sweet making, samosa demonstrations and tastings, henna painting and cultural performances and dancing.

In Waitakere, this festival was celebrated by the whole community irrespective of their background. The day offered variety entertainment items including a live band, Bollywood dances, cultural performances and drama. Patrons have the opportunity the 40 plus Indian merchandise stalls. There were also 18 food stalls providing various watering food from the Indian Continent. Other attractions included traditional hand painting "henna", trying out the Rangoli (Arts) displays, a spectacular indoor lazer light show and the grand finale of the night was a dazzling fireworks display.

On 10th and 11th October, the Viaduct Harbour in Auckland CBD was full of colour, tradition, authentic music, dance and aroma's of Indian food celebrating Dewali Festival of Lights 2009. Highlights of the festival included the colourful and lively Rajasthani puppets, Mystic Minstrels from Bengal, Bollywood dance competition and a grand finale fireworks display.It was organised by Auckland City Council in conjunction with Asia NZ and was attended by 100,000 people.

The New Zealand Governor General, Sir Anand Satyanand (an Indian) in his special message for Diwali said that in New Zealand, the festival not only symbolises the best traditions of Indian culture, but is also a timely reminder of the significant contribution made by the more than 100,000 people of Indian origin to the nation's society, culture and economy.

Happy Deepavali

Please click on the photos to enlarge.

Posted on 17th October, 2009 Saturday morning

We have not seen each other for ages!

At the Sri Pantai Gathering on 25 September 2009

Food, Food, Food!

At the Sri Pantai Gathering on 25 September 2009