Hundreds turned up for the launch of the National Girmit Day celebrations in Labasa over the weekend.
The national celebrations kicked off with a march through Labasa’s main street and a commemorative ceremony at Subrail Park to mark the 146th anniversary of the arrival of the first indentured labourers.
While officiating at the event, President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu paid tribute to the Girmitiyas and their descendants.
“146 years ago in May, 1879, the first indentured labourers from British India to Fiji arrived from Calcutta, India on the Leonidas, a labour transportation ship,” said Ratu Naiqama.
“Let us take a moment to recognise the resilience and strength of our people and to pay tribute to our founding father, our past leaders and all those who contributed to the development of Fiji today.”
The theme of this year’s celebrations is “Preserving the past, envisioning the future”.
