Meet-and-greet to celebrate India's independence day

Whangarei will celebrate the 70th anniversary of Indian independence tomorrow from 5pm to 8pm at the NorthTec apprentice restaurant on Raumanga Valley Rd.

Everyone is invited to a meet-and-greet in Whangarei to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Indian independence.

The get-together has been organised by the Northland Indian Association and will run from 5pm to 8pm at the NorthTec apprentice restaurant on Raumanga Valley Rd tomorrow to commemorate the occasion.

India became an independent nation on August 15, 1947, so a gazetted holiday is held annually to remember this date.

Association board member Sakshi Vij said it would be more a meet-and-greet occasion rather than a formal Indian musical and food fest.

"Our association has not been very active in the last couple of years so we thought we'd organise something like this so people can get together and interact," she said.

The evening will start with the Indian national anthem, followed by games and mindmapping.

Attendees will be asked for ideas on activities the association could organise in future.

Ms Vij said yoga, bhangra - a type of popular music combining Punjabi folk traditions with western pop music - and a sports day could form future events.

She said people would be encouraged to become association members when they attend the get-together.

- Entry is free and those wishing to attend are asked to register by 5pm today at northland.indians@gmail.com