Pari aims to keep food, fun and festivities

While the rest of PNG seems to be affected by the ongoing drought induced weather with short supply of food and water, Pari village was only short of one precious commodity – Water.

However, that did not stop the festive celebrations leading up to Christmas Day and following on to the New Year celebration with a mountain of food, fun and festivities, which only the Pari villagers boast to know how to do best. 

From Christmas it was the usual  celebration of  the Birth of Jesus Christ with church services and singing of choir groups or – “Peroveta  anedia”  as they call it in their  Motuan language from all around the village.

In fact, food never seemed to be in short supply from Christmas up to New Years Eve and New Years Day saw a whole week of partying, dancing, singing, string band performances, it seemed like one big Mardi Gras in Pari.

New Years Eve and  New Years Day was the crescendo of all celebrations when partying, singing, dancing, peroveta and courting by young men and women was free flowing, but was under the watchful eyes of the elders.

Dr Ikau Kevau a surgeon since 1990 and a local was seen enjoying the atmosphere revelling with his people. His elder brother is  Prof. Dr. Sir Isi Kevau a heart specialist.

“The celebrations are about bringing people together, whatever situation they are in to enjoy life together and to look forward to promoting the village in a good way.”

“ It is also about encouraging the young people to maintain these activities with peace and love and it’s about bringing us together as a people and as a community,” Dr Ikau said.

Host organising chairman from the 2015-16 celebrations, Isi Frank said the festivities are about “keeping our spirit alive and being together.”

“Our goal is to make sure our spirit lives on forever,” Frank said.

Frank told PNG Loop the preparation for the Christmas and New Year festivities commenced after all the church programs ended in October.

As a young man a chairman for the organising committee Frank with the help of his clan – dressed in yellow – did extremely well to feed the other two clans – the Mavara –Idibana clan in blue and the Laurina –Vahoi or LLV in red.

Frank also thanked the  local MP Justin Tkatchenko for providing assistance for the celebrations and also to local motu station 89.1 Lalokau FM  owned by Hanuabada knight Sir  Dadi Mahuru Toka for providing the sound system for the celebration.

It was the first time for a sound system to used which added to the atmosphere.

Next year it will be LLV or Laurina – Vahoi  clan (in blue)  who will host and feed the two other clans for the 2016-17 celebrations.

 

Author: 
Alfred Kaniniba