The Bhairavi Sungum of Springs hosted its 29th annual multi-cultural Sarasvathee Celebrations with Heritage Concert at the Bakerton Community Hall on Sunday.

The event showcased the Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati and Telugu communities, who stunned attendees with cultural performances in praise of Goddess Sarasvathee.

“Such cultural platforms show unity and embrace our diverse heritage,” said chairperson Poovershree Pillay.

Sungum had lined up a programme that kept the audience glued to their seats. It included cultural performances from fellow organisations, including the B&S Bhajan Group, the Benoni Tamil School board, Bhagwan Ka Divya Dhun, the SMR School of Music, Sarvavidya Natyaalaya, Shree Sitthi Vinayagar Alayam, the Springs Hindu Seva Samaj, the Springs Sanathan Ved Dharam Sabha, the Springs Sathya Sai Centre, Sri Raam Bhajana Mandiram and the Bhairavi Sungum of Springs.

Speaking at the event, Pillay said, “Our heritage is a rich mosaic shaped by centuries of culture, philosophy, music, language and values.

These aren’t just stories of the past, they live in us. They live in how we greet one another with respect, how we cherish family, how we celebrate festivals with colour and meaning and how we believe that unity can thrive amidst diversity.”

She encouraged attendees to be intentional about how they present themselves in society and to support one another.

“We must support the youth in understanding their roots while encouraging them to soar into their future. We must work with other communities, learn from them, stand with them and together shape a country where everyone feels seen, respected and valued,” she said.

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