Relentless rain, lightning and thunder couldn’t dampen the Cretan spirit on Saturday night as hundreds of people gathered on a rural property at Peats Ridge in Sydney to dance a pentozali, sousta or malevizotis.
Over 500 people drove the 1.5 hours outside of central Sydney to Peats Ridge for the annual Cretan Paniyiri by the Cretan Association of Sydney and New South Wales.
On arrival, they definitely weren’t disappointed by the festive and family-friendly atmosphere, with attendees able to enjoy a stroll among the lemon, avocado and mango trees as the sunshine hit their smiling faces.
Laughter could also be heard floating across the property as children were free to roam, groove away to Cretan music on the dance floor, or swing from a kids playset that was set up nearby.
Elsewhere the adults were gathered around their designated tables, either in the shade or out in the open, mingling and enjoying traditional Greek food such as pilaf and dolmades. The kontosouvli was by Pelopidas Catering. All the food was delivered to the tables by the Association’s dedicated volunteers.
Later, as the sun began to set, musicians from Crete, Nikos Karkanis, Timmoleon Savvakis and Manousos Kounalakis, began to play live music and the Cretan Association’s junior and intermediate dance groups performed.
It was at this moment the skies opened and a severe storm hit the paniyiri but that didn’t stop attendees, volunteers and members of the senior dancing group from running out into the rain and keeping the kefi going with some traditional Cretan dances.
The sight brought a smile to everyone’s face and drew chants of ‘Long Live Crete’ from the crowd.
When we asked one young female dancer what the paniyiri meant to her, she said it was important to get together, dance and celebrate the “unique culture” of Crete.
“I think it’s great just to be able to celebrate being Cretan with everyone,” the dancer said.
President of the Cretan Association, Emmanuel Vitetzakis, added that the severe storm “allowed us to show the world the resilience of the Cretan people.”
“No amount of rain could stop us Cretans from dancing and having a great time. You could not wipe the smile off my face when I was watching, and dancing with, all the youth in the middle of the dance floor whilst the rain was tumbling down,” Mr Vitetzakis told The Greek Herald.
“The Cretan musicians couldn’t believe what they were witnessing and they went to another level with entertaining us.”
Mr Vitetzakis also thanked his executive committee, sub-committee, families and sponsors for making the paniyiri “one of the best events ever hosted” by the Cretan Association.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
