Descendents Reminded of Culture

Never forget the hard work, dedication, perseverance, unity and neversay-die attitude of your forefathers. Department of Heritage and Arts principal officer Seini Vakaloloma shared these sentiments, during the Girmit and Intangible Cultural Heritage celebration at Vunimono in Nausori yesterday.

There was great music, entertainment and display of rich intangible cultural heritage possessions that our brothers and sisters brought during the Girmit era from various parts of India.

Ms Vakaloloma said the 139th anniversary of indentured labourers’ arrival in Fiji was a time for meeting friends, sharing wisdom and quenching the thirst for great knowledge and background of our Fijian brothers and sisters of Indo-Fijian descent.

“The Nausori Multi-Cultural Centre came into effect with the assistance of the Fijian Government and will continue to create positive impact on our culture, custom and keep our tradition alive,” she said. “Our aim at the Department of Heritage and Arts is to keep our multi-ethnic nature deep rooted for our children today so that our future does not suffer the consequences. “Every culture and its remembrance are very important to us at the department. “Remember your culture is your identity and each one should be proud of their own and respect each other’s culture so that we can prove to be a nation of solidarity. “Their sacrifices have made you what you are today in terms of being respectful, culturally sound and able to survive in a multi-cultural community,” Ms Vakaloloma added.