Caption: Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama with the Indian Prime Minister H.E Hon. Narendra Modi during the welcome ceremony at Ablert Park in Suva yesterday, November 19. Photo: ANUSHIL KUMAR.
By ANUSHIL KUMAR
The historical visit by world leaders to Fiji will be an opportunity to showcase Fiji’s unique traditional iTaukei ceremonies of welcome.
On Wednesday, November 19, the Fijian Government hosted the Indian Prime Minister His Excellency Hon. Narendra Modi as he was welcomed with the traditional iTaukei ceremony at Albert Park in Suva.
The Government will also be hosting the President of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Xi Jinping in Nadi tomorrow, November 21, as he will be welcomed by the same traditional ceremony.
The Hon. Prime Minister who is also the Minister for I-Taukei Affairs Voreqe Bainimarama said high level visits give different iTaukei communities the opportunity to present their own traditional ceremonies of welcome which are distinct from each other.
He added that in this way, the Fijian government is preserving and promoting the practice of iTaukei customs and traditions.
A day before the Indian Prime Minister’s visit, he met the villagers of Sokoroba, Ba who performed the traditional ceremonies of welcome for H.E Hon. Modi.
The village of Nakorotubu in Ra will perform the traditional ceremony of welcome to the Chinese President in Nadi tomorrow, November 21.