Let’s revive the Fiji Day
UNLIKE the lack-lustre national day festivities we now have, Fiji’s first Independence Day celebration held on October 10, 1970 and ensuing years, were a time full of pomp and fun.
Communication was a challenge in those days.
There was no television, no mobile phones and no internet, however, when it came to mobilising the community for civic events, people flocked with civic pride and a true sense of civic duty.
Today, modern communication technology and gadgets at our disposal are more than meets the eye, but they are not enough to attract a crowd around Independence Day and stir the Fiji Day fever we used to experience in yesteryears.
Celebrations in October 1970 were electrifying and mind-boggling. I wasn’t born then but records found on the pages of The Fiji Times show people in those days were a different breed.
They were curious but united in their sense of identity and belonging.
Friday, October 9, 1970
The Fiji Times reported that on the first day of Fiji Day festivities , thousands of people lined 14 miles of road from Nausori Airport to Albert Park in Suva to catch a glimpse of the young Prince Charles who represented Her Majesty on the occasion.
Suva literally came to a standstill as thousands witnessed the lowering of the Union Jack for the last time in Fiji, heralding a new page in our history.
The Fiji Military Forces band played “God Save the Queen”.
Later, Prince Charles watched an hourlong meke performed by the people of Rewa and Tailevu and flamboyantly costumed Indian women.
Chiefs from Fiji’s 14 provinces traditionally welcomed the Prince to our shores while various dance troupes representing Fiji’s different ethnic groups provided an ensemble of cultural performances.
The people of Fiji presented the royal with traditional gifts including 100 pigs, more than 20 turtles and a mountain of dalo and yams.
Saturday October 10, 1970
Again on Saturday morning, October 10, a strong crowd of 20,000 people thronged to Albert Park eager to witness the raising of Fiji’s new flag.
Prince Charles read out a personal message from the Queen, who wished Fiji “progress, prosperity and good fortune”.
“I have no doubt that if you continue to seek solutions to future problems in the same spirit in which you have faced and overcome those of the past, the years ahead will be bright and prosperous,” the Queen’s message read.
The day’s program filled with much merrymaking. People were happy. Some cried out of excitement.
Four British paratroopers dropped from the sky in spectacular fashion much to the crowd’s approval and excitement.
Sunday, October 11, 1970
On Sunday, all religions and faiths in Fiji joined in an ecumenical service of praise and dedication described as something that united all people of Fiji.
The weather was a bit overcast but people still flocked to Albert Park where leaders of major religious communities in Fiji took part in celebration.
Prince Charles and Governor-General Sir Robert Foster were received with a fanfare of trumpets.
The National Anthem, God Bless Fiji, was played by the Fiji Military Forces band and a choir of more than 1000 voices sang to the crowd.
Father L. Hannan, chairman of the independence service committee, opened the service with praise before there were readings from the Bible in Fijian, the Vedas in Hindi and the Koran in Arabic.
In Lautoka a congregation of more than 8000 sat at Churchill Park during a similar thanksgiving service.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
We fast forward to today. Well, I believe nothing major was organised over the past few weeks to mark our national day — our birthday.
There’s definitely nothing like the wave of patriotism of 1970 and ensuing years.
Maybe, we are too engrossed with other things.
Maybe, we’ve lost that special spark and there’s no more civic pride in our hearts.
Or maybe, we should start digging deep within ourselves again and wake up the latent energy and dynamism inside of us.
We talk so much about unity, civic pride and we call ourselves Fijians, but I think we do not know what it means to be true Fijian at heart and in spirit.
If we continue down this path, very soon, in the not too distant future, Fiji Day will be just another day to be at home and stay away from work.
I had only hoped yesterday’s Rugby World Cup game against Wales was scheduled for today.
It would have been the perfect way to celebrate Fiji Day, with all Fijians huddled around grog bowls and TV sets, in the company of family and close friends.
If Fiji has won the game against Wales, as well as earning a bonus point as you read this article I would like to wish you all the best.
If not, cheers anyway! There’ll be other opportunities in the future.
Let’s try to celebrate in a big way in 2020 — the 50th anniversary of our independence.
Wherever, you are in Fiji and in the world, if you call yourself a Fijian, I say this to you “Happy Fiji Day and go Fiji, go!