Ticketed Shows Added To Auckland’s Diwali Festival Line-up

For the first time, Auckland’s Diwali festival will feature ticketed events alongside its free celebrations, RNZ reports.

The annual festival, one of the largest cultural gatherings in the city centre, will return to Aotea Square and Queen Street on 11 and 12 October. Since its launch in 2002, it has showcased traditional and contemporary Indian music and dance, together with food and craft stalls.

This year’s programme will include cultural performances across three stages, as well as theatre, exhibitions, art installations, light projections, yoga classes, and Bollywood films. Organiser Tātaki Auckland Unlimited has also scheduled ticketed performances at Auckland Town Hall, Aotea Centre, and Q Theatre from 5 October.

The ticketed line-up includes Bollywood Meets Jazz, led by jazz pianist Ben Fernandes with the Auckland Jazz Orchestra on 7 October at Auckland Town Hall. Fernandes told RNZ his vision was to present Bollywood tunes without Indian instruments to show that music is universal and accessible to all. He said earlier shows had attracted audiences from diverse backgrounds who enjoyed the music despite being unfamiliar with the original tunes, and added that he had spent two years refining the material.

Other highlights include Indian singer-songwriter Lucky Ali in concert on 12 October at Aotea Centre, the Miss India NZ beauty pageant on 10 October at Auckland Town Hall, and Ram Leela: A Timeless Tale of Valour and Devotion of Lord Rama, directed and choreographed by Anuradha Ramkumar with more than 120 performers, on 11 October at Auckland Town Hall. On 5 October, audiences can also attend Kundalini – The Awakening, an Odissi dance production by Sam Goraya, Samir Panigrahi, and Santosh Ram.

Across the two-day festival, visitors can expect a Bollywood Dance Battle, light projections in Aotea Square, illuminated art installations in Freyberg Place and Khartoum Place, and performances by the Basant Madhur Ensemble at Ellen Melville Centre and Freyberg Place. The celebrations will close with a fireworks display on 12 October.

The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival will run at Aotea Square and along Queen Street from midday to 9pm on 11–12 October.