There was an excellent turnout at the Tamil New Year celebrations held at the Port Shepstone Civic Centre last Sunday.
What was quite apparent throughout the celebrations was that the Tamil community on the South Coast is a vibrant one and it is proud of its heritage.
For the outsider, the event was both eye-opening and educational. A prayer was held at the temple before guests were entertained by local musicians as well as musicians from Durban. Songs, dances and lucky draws continued throughout the celebration.
South Africa’s multi-talented Shir Srinivasen (Sidney Naidoo) and Karen Kisten and troupe from Durban, kept the audience well entertained.
The guest speaker was the president of the South African Tamil Federation, Thiru Karthi Moothsamy.
Chairman of the Port Shepstone Tamil Association, Dinah Naidoo said that the association has directed itself towards religion and culture for the advancement of the Hindu community on the Hibiscus Coast. “It is said that culture gives us identity, without which we would be nonentities,” said Mrs Naidoo.
With these words, she generously handed a cheque over to the Port Shepstone Recovery Centre for an amount of R2000.
The South African Tamil Association and the KZN Tamil Federation also kindly donated R1000 each. The KZN MEC for Human Settlement and Public Works, Ravi Pillay decided to assist and donated R2000. Anthony Gonzalves of the centre was pleased with the R6000 that would go a long way in assisting the centre.
Lunch was served after the show. The Port Shepstone Tamil Association thanks the local community for supporting the event and making it the huge success that it was.
