A dance performance at Hastings' Toitoi Event Centre during Punjabi Language Week celebrations. Photo: Supplied
Traditional music, bhangra and giddha performances, and vibrant displays of culture have marked the start of Punjabi Language Week, with Punjabi communities nationwide celebrating their heritage and identity.
Now in its sixth year, the week-long celebration highlights efforts to preserve the Punjabi language - the fastest-growing language in New Zealand, according to the 2023 Census.
The number of Punjabi speakers rose by 45 percent between 2018 and 2023, numbering 49,656 people nationwide.
The celebrations began Sunday in Wellington, where the Wellington Punjabi Women Association hosted community activities featuring traditional performances, music and food.
On the same day in Hawkes Bay, hundreds gathered at the Toitoi Event Centre in Hastings for an evening of bhangra, giddha and Punjabi songs.
"Language is the heart of identity and heritage, and it carries stories, traditions and values," said Sukhdeep Singh, chair of Singh Sports and Cultural Club and Akaal Riders NZ, which organised the celebrations.
"By celebrating Punjabi Language Week, we ensure that our children learn the language with pride, strengthen intergenerational bonds and share our rich culture with the wider community," he said.
Singh thanked the hundreds who attended the event, saying their "support and enthusiasm made the event truly special".
He said more activities would take place during the week at libraries in Hastings and Napier, offering opportunities for families to engage further with Punjabi language and culture.
More celebrations are planned for the weekend in Auckland, Tauranga, Dunedin and Hamilton.
Navtej Randhawa is a fourth-generation Indian New Zealander and trustee of the NZ Punjabi Multimedia Trust. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom
In South Auckland, the New Zealand Punjabi Multimedia Trust and NAAD Charitable Trust is poised to host Punjab Day at Manukau Square on Saturday.
"We're organising a finale for Punjabi Language Week with traditional cultural performances, live music, bhangra and a traditional fashion show," said Navtej Randhawa, a trustee of the NZ Punjabi Multimedia Trust.
Randhawa, a fourth-generation Indian New Zealander, said the week was an important opportunity for the Punjabi diaspora to celebrate their roots and for others to learn about the language.
Last year, community leaders called for more work to be done to mainstream the Punjabi language in New Zealand's education sector.
"We need Punjabi Language Week to keep our rich culture and language alive within the community here," Randhawa said.
Punjab Day will also feature an exhibition tracing the story of the Punjabi language and its journey to New Zealand.
