New Zealand’s Odia community has just close to 80 families living in the country, but the non-registered self-help networking community group has come together on several occasions to celebrate cultural and community events together as one family.

The Odia community in New Zealand is represented by Prem Nepak, who took the initiative a few years ago trying to bridge although small but growing numbers of Odia people living in New Zealand with each other.

On Saturday, July 20, the Odia community hosted ‘Rathajatra Get Together’ event to celebrate the festival in devotion towards Lord Jagannath.

The event had approximately 50 families living in Auckland come together at Athol Syms Hall in Epsom in celebration of the Jagannath culture.

“The event got off to a delightfully devotional start with the worship of Lord Jagannath, where everyone prayed not only for their peace and happiness but for the entire community of humanity which was followed by bhajans which everyone chanted in joyous unison,” Prem Nepak told The Indian Weekender.

The cultural programme had Odissi classical dance, a stage drama by children on Lord Jagannath, folk and modern Odia dances performed by women, and folk Odia songs.

“Members of the Association also prepared special food items which were a rich tapestry of both Odia and other Indian cuisine made ever so lovingly only for the occasion, and everyone savoured the delicious dishes,” Mr Nepak added.

In conversation with the Indian Weekender, Mr Nepak said that the Odia community in New Zealand are small but distributed in different parts of the country and yet well connected.

“We have our Odia community members spread across the country and in various professions but since the size is small, we have not been able to create an official community organisation, yet we stay closely connected with each other.

“Some of our members are doctors, some professors and lecturers in Auckland University and colleges, some into the software industry, retail industry etc. We connect each other through Whatsapp group and if anyone needs any help or assistance.

“Say if someone’s family member wants to migrate to New Zealand from Odisha or want to take up study here or even have their parents visit their family in New Zealand, we direct them to the right people for any advise, suggestions or if any other help is needed,” Mr Nepak said.

Mr Nepak further added that the number of Odia people are increasing slowly and for any events or get-togethers, the members coordinate with each other, book a venue, collaborate to make food together for the gathering etc. and celebrate the occasion.

“For example our Rathajatra event, we had children practising the drama for over eight weeks, women practising their dance performances for a long time so that they can display the Odia culture well with the community. One of us prepared fish curry, the other person made other dishes at their homes and brought it to the event for us,” Mr Nepak added.

Mr Nepak came to New Zealand 13 years ago and eventually connected with other Odia members and the other members started more networking that has built an informal, small yet robust and connected Odia community in New Zealand.

The community celebrated year-end celebrations in 2018, Dusshera, Holi, Rathajatra for Lord Jagannath and this year plan to host a bigger Diwali-Dusshera event. “The whole purpose of these events is to rejuvenate the Odia culture for the Odia community here and also get our children to be connected with their roots, culture and cultural practices.

“At the end of the event last week, we acknowledged the contribution of the members of the community and the volunteers for making the event a huge success and co-creating such marvellously engaging entertainment for the entire community,” Mr Nepaksaid.