Sangam Association of Queensland (SAQ) is a not-for-profit community-based organisation. It was founded by a group of Fiji Indian migrants who had settled in Queensland. They are descendants of Indian indentured labourers brought in by the British Colonial Government to Fiji to establish sugarcane plantations in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s.
On 15th February 1995 some visionary pioneers gave birth to the organisation, and they held the first meeting of the SAQ. Since then, the organisation has grown with members participating in religious, sporting and cultural activities.
The objectives of the organisation as stated in the constitution:
(1) To promote arts (including music & performing arts), literature, languages, and the culture of Fiji South Indian origin within the Australian context fostering a spirit of responsible citizenship, cultivating mutual respect through enhanced social, cultural, religious, sporting, and educational interactions.
(2) To facilitate and organize activities to provide relief and aid to disaster struck communities, charitable foundations, and local community projects.
(3) To establish a Centre for the purpose of education, teachings and services in the context of objects (1) and (2).
Our History
Learn more about who we are
1995
Sangam Association of Queensland (SAQ) was established. Some of the pioneers who deserve recognition are - Adi Narayan Reddy, Bala Naidu, Ram Krishna, Ravi Naidu, GER Krishna, Vishnu Rao, Gopal Krishna V.J. Mani, Anamalai Naicker and Krishna Krishnan.
Why we need our community organisation
The people of Fiji who have a South Indian background arrived there as indentured labourers (girmitiyas). Because of their common language, food style and similar cultural activities, they grouped together and later set up their own organisation - the India Sanmargya Ikya Sangam (TISI).
This community group included all those who came from South India regardless of their religion and their background. Those who practised Hinduism established Mariamman temples. Mariamman temples are very common in the villages in South India where the deity is seen as the protector that guards the villagers and keeps away evils such as flooding, diseases like small pox (“mata”) and all kinds of other hardships. The religious activities practised in Fiji such as:
• the week-long fire walking ceremony,
• carrying the “gargam” on the head,
• taking out “gulgula” from boiling oil with bare hands,
• story-telling through ‘thirikuthu” dance,
• playing of “udeke” and “dhapla”, and
• allowing individuals to perform “aarti” inside the temples, demonstrate how the South Indian Fiji community is unique. Also, individuals can enter the inner-sanctum and offer prayers unlike other temples where you can only offer "puja" via a priest. The desire to continue these unique cultural practises remained when emigrating to Queensland. The only way this can be done is by uniting through an organisation, hence the establishment of the SAQ.
The Organisation has Grown
The organisation has grown from strength to strength since it was established in 1995. It is now an organisation of over 100 members with many confirmed as lifetime members. The leadership team have done great work in terms of organising activities like fire walking and related religious activities; cultural events including “thirukutu” dance; sent sports teams to the annual gathering of TISI in Fiji; Maathar Sangam and activities for TIV Sangam members. It shows that every incoming MC has put in a great deal of work to carry on with the organisation and temple activities. Also, the “pujaris” who put up their hands to undertake the religious activities of the organisation must be recognised and their work appreciated, particularly for the activities such as fire walking, taking out “gulgula” from boiling oil, and the monthly poojas. Also to note that those involved in the MC or other activities have done this work as volunteers and in the interest and the honour of the organisation.
Challenges: The temple has to be relocated
The biggest current challenge faced by the community is that since the area has been declared a flood zone and accordingly the Logan City Council has advised that the place could not be used for any public activities; the SAQ has to find another place to relocate the temple.