NAVADURGA brings the nine forms of Maa Durga to the Auckland stage

The power, stories and symbolism of the nine forms of Maa Durga were celebrated on stage in Auckland on 26 September, as TAAL New Zealand presented NAVADURGA , an original production celebrating Indian culture, devotion, faith and community.

Held at Auckland’s Dorothy Winstone Centre, the production followed the journey of Navadurga, the nine forms of Goddess Durga, bringing together dance, music, theatre and storytelling to explore their significance for audiences across generations.

At the heart of NAVADURGA was a powerful message: the divine feminine is not defined by one kind of strength, but by many.

Through each of the nine forms of Durga Mata, audiences experienced a different expression of the divine feminine: the grounding strength of Shailaputri, the devotion and discipline of Brahmacharini, the courage and protection of Chandraghanta, the creative energy of Kushmanda, the nurturing strength of Skandamata, the warrior power of Katyayani, the fierce destruction of darkness embodied by Kalaratri, the purity and renewal of Mahagauri, and the wisdom and fulfilment represented by Siddhidatri.

For TAAL, NAVADURGA was never intended to be simply a dance performance. It was an opportunity for young people growing up in New Zealand to connect with their faith, culture and heritage through a language they know and love: dance and the performing arts.

The production brought together a cast spanning different ages, backgrounds and levels of dance experience. Behind the performance were months of rehearsals and preparation, involving choreography, storytelling, costume creation, set and prop building, music, lighting and production work.

Much of that work happened within the TAAL community itself.

Students contributed creatively to choreography and storytelling, while parents, families and volunteers helped sew and prepare costumes, build props and sets, transport equipment and support the enormous operation behind the scenes. Many elements of the production were created in-house using donated, recycled and repurposed materials.

That collective effort reflects the philosophy behind TAAL New Zealand.

Founded five years ago, TAAL is a not-for-profit performing arts charity created to give people a safe and inclusive place to dance, create, grow and belong. What began as a space for learning dance has grown into a community focused on keeping Indian culture alive while giving the next generation the freedom to explore and express it in their own way.

TAAL’s students have performed at some of New Zealand’s largest cultural and community events, celebrated competition successes across the country and represented New Zealand internationally.

In 2025, the team travelled to the United States to perform at Walt Disney World, becoming the first and only Indian dance team from New Zealand and Australasia to be accepted to perform at the Diwali Dance Fest.

NAVADURGA represented something particularly special for the organisation.

It was a production created by the community, for the community, and a reminder that keeping culture alive does not mean it has to stand still. Stories can be learned, celebrated, interpreted and passed from one generation to the next, while still honouring where they came from.

TAAL is incredibly grateful to the sponsors, volunteers, families, supporting partners and wider community who believed in the vision of NAVADURGA and helped bring it to life.

Through productions like NAVADURGA, TAAL hopes to continue creating spaces where young people can understand the stories that came before them, feel proud of where they come from and discover their own way of carrying those stories forward.

For TAAL, that is part of a much wider purpose: to keep the stories, values and traditions of Sanatan Dharma alive, creating meaningful ways for the next generation to understand them, connect with them and proudly carry them forward.

And the story does not end here.

Following NAVADURGA, TAAL New Zealand is proud to announce its next major production for 2027: MAHADEV, exploring the stories, forms and many dimensions of Lord Shiva through dance, theatre and storytelling.