Tauranga and Western Bay Indian Association

07/10/2026

NEW ZEALAND AND INDIA Sporting relationship celebrating 100 MIGHTY YEARS! 🇳🇿🇮🇳💯🙏🏽 1926-2026.





A Century of Sporting Ties
Celebrating unity through sports between New Zealand and India. 🏑🏏⚽️🥅🎾⛹️‍♂️

In 2026, New Zealand and India celebrate a century of sporting ties. In the first of this four-part series, Stephen Hewson looks at the history of hockey.

07/10/2026

🏏Celebrating 100 years of sporting ties between New Zealand and India🏑

From a 1926 hockey tour that drew an estimated 25,000 spectators to Eden Park, to cricket contests and Himalayan mountaineering expeditions, sport has been part of the New Zealand–India relationship for a century.

To mark 100 years of official sporting ties, the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono has released "A Century of Sporting Ties: Celebrating unity through sports between New Zealand and India."

The report is part of a year of celebrations marking the centenary, led by Sport New Zealand.

The report traces the evolution of the sporting relationship through three pivotal sporting codes: hockey, cricket and mountaineering, while also exploring the development of the relationship through other sports such as squash and tennis.

Read the full report on our website ⬇️
www.asianz.org.nz/a-century-of-sporting-ties

04/10/2026

We cordially invite you to be part of our Tauranga and Western Bay Indian community Navratri Day 1 Garba night on 11/10/26 at Wesley Church. Free to join. Dress your best Garba wear.

5:30 pm- Kids session
6:30 pm- Navratri Garba
8:00 pm Aarti and Prasadam
10:30 pm- Finishing Garba night
Food available on site. Please support our local food vendor.
Prizes await for youth and adult best dress and best dancers. So let’s make this a special occasion to reconnect and rejoice the beauty of mother goddess.
May you all be blessed by the grace and glory of Ambe Maataji🕉️🙏🏽
Jai Ambe Maat Ki Jai.

04/10/2026

03/10/2026

01/10/2026

🇮🇳🙏🏽🇮🇳Gandhi Jayanti 2026 is celebrated on October 2 as the 157th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.

🇮🇳GANDHI JAYANTI is a national holiday in India celebrated annually on October 2nd to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's independence movement and a pioneer of non-violent resistance. 🇮🇳

Below reading explores the history, core philosophy, global observance, and modern significance of Gandhi Jayanti.

🇮🇳History and Origin
Born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat, Gandhi dedicated his life to securing India’s freedom from British colonial rule. He transformed the freedom struggle into a mass movement through the principles of Satyagraha (insistence on truth) and Ahimsa (non-violence). Major milestones under his leadership included:

🇮🇳The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22)
* ✌🏽The Salt March (1930)
* ✌🏽The Quit India Movement (1942)

Following his assassination on January 30, 1948, October 2nd was established as a solemn national holiday in India to honor his memory, alongside Independence Day and Republic Day.

🇮🇳Global Recognition: International Day of Non-Violence
The reach of Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy extends far beyond India's borders. On June 15, 2007, the [United Nations General Assembly](https://www.un.org) adopted a resolution declaring October 2nd as the International Day of Non-Violence. This designation helps disseminate the message of peace, tolerance, understanding, and human rights worldwide using non-violent means.

🇮🇳Significance and Core Teachings
Gandhi Jayanti is an occasion for introspection and remembrance of the values that defined Mahatma Gandhi's life:

⚖️Truth (Satya) and Non-violence (Ahimsa): Viewing non-violence as the most powerful tool available to humanity.
💯Self-reliance (Swaraj and Swadeshi): Promoting local industries, economic independence, and personal responsibility.
👣Simplicity and Social Equality: Advocating for communal harmony and the upliftment of marginalized communities.

🇮🇳🥳How the Day is Celebrated
Observances take place across India and at international diplomatic missions:

🙏🏽Tributes at Memorials: National leaders, citizens, and activists gather at [Raj Ghat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raj_Ghat), Gandhi's memorial in New Delhi, to offer prayers and floral tributes. [10, 11]
🙏🏽Prayer Meetings and Commemorations: All-faith prayer meetings, devotional songs (bhajans), and commemorative speeches are held in schools and public venues.
🙏🏽Community Service: Cleanliness drives and community outreach programs—often aligned with national initiatives like 🧹🧽Swachh Bharat—take place nationwide.

Sources:
[1] [https://en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi_Jayanti)