As we approach the Girmit Day celebrations, a Vanua Day is going to be held today to show gratitude to the Taukei Vidilo and Tui Vuda for giving their blessings to have the events in Lautoka and for allowing early descendants of girmitiyas to plant on their land.
While speaking during fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan, Girmit Celebrations Organising Committee Chair, Sashi Kiran says the first lot of girmitiyas who could not go back were called ‘khula’ and were free but were given Colonial Sugar Refining Company land to work on.
Kiran says they were very restricted and could plant certain things and some of them approached the chiefs to give them land to plant.
She says some of those early settlers had the blessings of the Tui Vuda where they went and settled there and started farming in that area.
The Assistant Minister says they had requested the current Tui Vuda who is 94 years old and the Bose ni Momo to come together so they could pay gratitude for the last 145 years of having their blessings and utilising the land girmit descendants were given.
Kiran says tomorrow evening at the Lautoka Girmit Centre, there will be an exchange of gifts, food, dance and dialogue even before the Girmit Day events begin.
She says multiple stakeholders have been invited.
Girmit Day celebrations begin on Saturday and end on Monday in Lautoka and a celebration will also be held at Subrail Park on Saturday.
