Auckland hosts Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav celebrations

Thousands of devotees gathered in Auckland for one of the country’s largest spiritual events, as part of the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav celebrating 75 years of the global Chinmaya Mission.

The Chinmaya Hanuman Festival, held at Due Drop Events Centre, featured a large-scale Samashti Hanuman Chalisa Havan conducted across 108 sacred kunds, drawing participants from across New Zealand.

The havan formed part of what organisers described as one of the largest Hanuman Havans ever held in the country, highlighting the growing cultural and spiritual presence of the community.

The event centred around the collective chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa, alongside ritual offerings, symbolising a shared invocation of strength, courage, and inner transformation—values associated with Lord Hanuman and reflected in the teachings of the Mission.

The evening programme transitioned into a cultural segment, including a devotional music performance by Amrita Kaur.

New Zealand’s Minister of Education and Immigration, Erica Stanford, was also in attendance, underscoring the role of such events in promoting multicultural engagement.

The festival marked 75 years since the founding of the Chinmaya Mission by Swami Chinmayananda, with the Amrit Mahotsav celebrations reflecting his vision of self-development, service, and spiritual awareness.

Organisers said the gathering not only honoured a global legacy but also reinforced cultural identity and community unity within New Zealand’s diverse society.