05/16/2026
FASR’s first GIRMIT REMEMBRANCE DAY.
With less than a month of planning, we honestly expected an intimate event with maybe 60 guests at most…but seeing the overwhelming response from our community, with attendance well over 200 and unfortunately even having to turn away guests, made one thing very clear: this history matters deeply to our people.
The stories of Girmit, resilience, survival, sacrifice, and identity deserve to be remembered, preserved, and passed on to future generations. Because of your support and enthusiasm, planning for next year has already begun.
We will soon be looking for community members to join the planning committee. This project requires extensive research, collaboration, and cultural storytelling, and we already have some amazing ideas for next year. If you would like to be involved, please contact me. We would love to discuss how you can help.
A heartfelt thank you to the Arya Samaj Vedic Cultural & Learning Center Sacramento for their tremendous support with research and educational content. Your guidance added so much depth and authenticity to this event.
Thank you to Summer Palace for the incredible support with the venue, décor, and food. As always, the food was exceptional, something echoed by so many of our guests throughout the evening.
Thank you to Sharma’s Florist for the beautiful flowers and salu salu arrangements. They added such an elegant touch to the atmosphere, and we appreciate your contribution wholeheartedly.
A special thank you to Nafisa Zareen Khan for sharing her research, personal connection, and passion for preserving Girmit history. Her work inspires younger generations to dig deeper into their roots and continue these important conversations.
Thank you also to Vidya Shergill for sharing the perspective of an actual daughter of a Girmitya. Your words brought emotion, authenticity, and a powerful personal connection to the evening.
The music sets the tone for every event, and DJ Eric Lal absolutely delivered. Thank you for your patience, professionalism, and expertise in helping create such a warm and memorable evening.
Shout out to FASR Board Member Rajeev Prakash and Shivani Ram for doing an incredible job emceeing the event. Adding the American Fijian touch with our own language, humor, and island vibe made the evening feel even more special, authentic and cute.
And finally, thank you to our photographer, Veneel Chandra Photography for having your guys out there capturing the special moments from the night.
Most importantly, thank you to every single person who attended, shared stories, volunteered, and believed in the vision of honoring our ancestors and preserving our history.
We also offer our humble apologies for any inconvenience, overcrowding, or mistakes throughout the evening. The response exceeded all expectations, and we truly appreciate everyone’s patience, understanding, and grace as we navigated such an overwhelming turnout. We will absolutely learn from this experience and come back even stronger next year.
-FASR Leadership
Honoring Heritage. Building Community. Empowering Generations.
