Auckland’s Diwali Festival once again lit up the city with colour, culture, and community spirit, marking one of New Zealand’s biggest multicultural celebrations. Reported by RNZ
Celebrated by Hindus across the world, Diwali — also known as Deepavali — symbolises the return of Lord Ram and Sita to Ayodhya and the triumph of light over darkness. This year’s festivities, organised by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, expanded to include new ticketed events at the Auckland Town Hall, Aotea Centre, and Q Theatre, running from 5 October and culminating in a dazzling fireworks display on 12 October.
Music and cultural experiences took centre stage. Classical performances by local musicians led by percussionist Basant Madhur of Sargam School of Music featured traditional Indian instruments such as the tabla and sitar. On Queen Street, acclaimed tabla player Manjit Singh and vocalist Daljeet Kaur from the Rhythm School of Music drew large crowds with their vibrant showcase of Indian music traditions.
The festival also celebrated wellness and heritage. Attendees joined yoga sessions and explored Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of holistic healing. For those curious about traditional attire, Sneha Saini of Desi Threads conducted saree-draping workshops, explaining the elegance and regional diversity of the six-yard garment.
Visitors were spoiled for choice with over 250 free performances, food stalls offering dishes from across India, and a peaceful shanti lounge at the Aotea Centre for anyone needing a break from the bustling festivities.
Re-elected Puketāpapa Community Board member Ella Kumar, who has volunteered since 2002, praised the festival’s growth and inclusivity. “It’s our 23rd year of celebrating Auckland Diwali,” she said. “This time, we had ticketed events so people could experience the joy of Diwali beyond the weekend.”
The aroma of incense, sweets, and spices filled the air. Vinayak Lohan from Mother India shared his mission to introduce Ayurveda to more New Zealanders, while Ragavendra Pobbathi of Naathi Aromatherapy promoted eco-friendly incense made from essential oils that aid relaxation and meditation.
Foodies flocked to try everything from samosas to kulfi — traditional Indian ice cream made by slowly reducing milk to achieve a dense, creamy texture. “Kulfi is much denser and richer than regular ice cream,” said Rishi Vaswani, owner of Koolfi.
International visitors were equally captivated. Yaohua Zuo, a student from China, said, “I tried pani puri and samosas — they were really good! This is my second Diwali here, and I enjoy it every year.”
The celebration ended on a high note with a performance by Heramb Dhol Tasha, a Marathi drum group whose electrifying rhythms from Maharashtra echoed through Auckland’s streets.
With its fusion of dance, music, food, and cultural exchange, Auckland Diwali 2024 once again highlighted how this festival of lights continues to unite communities across Aotearoa.
D4dance Dreamers, who travelled from Hamilton, performed Shiv Tandav (a dance dedicated to Hindu God Shiva), which added a spiritual and religious aspect to the celebration.
One of the weekend's cultural highlights was Ram Leela: A Timeless Tale of Valour and Devotion of Lord Rama, a dance drama directed by renowned dancer Anuradha Ramkumar that featured more than 120 artists at Auckland Town Hall on 11 October.
"There are so many life lessons one can learn from Ram's story, especially the dharma aspect," Ramkumar said. "It's truly a blessing to be able to bring [his] story to the wider community as part of Diwali celebrations."
Like previous years, one of the biggest hits of the weekend was an energetic performance by a five-member New Zealand Police dance troupe coached by Parminder Singh, district advisor at Counties Manukau Police.
"We started this initiative in 2015 as a way of bridging the gap between the community and the police," Singh said.
"New Zealand Police believes in the multiculturalism of this nation and our focus is always on community policing.
"Hence, all of us are very proud to be performing Indian dances on the biggest stage of all in New Zealand."
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