Invercargill’s growing Indian community has been celebrating Diwali with greater gusto each year over the past few years and this year, too, the festival was a big draw with a variety of events.
It was held at Stadium Southland one of Invercargill’s biggest venues. Hundreds of people attended along with several important citizens of New Zealand’s southernmost city and the surrounding Southland region. More than 3000 people visited the celebrations.
Kicking off the event was Invercargill’s traditional town crier Lynley McKerrow followed by the arrival of Invercargill’s first citizen, the redoubtable Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt, now the country’s longest-serving Mayor.
Also attending were National Party MP Sarah Dowie, Labour Party MP Liz Craig and many councillors from the Invercargill City Council.
The entertainment included a magic show by well-known conjurer Wayne McEwan
Cultural performances including a Bharatanatyam dance item by children, Bhangra/Giddha by a women’s group from Hamilton- pictures attached)
Followed by a musical evening by DJ Prudhvi from Auckland.
The audience liked the children’s Bharatanatyam performance so much they asked for an encore, which they got.
Visitors enjoyed an array of Indian delicacies all through the evening. The food was representative of different regions across India.
“It was awesome. We loved the cultural performances and very pleased to see the Indian community growing in the local region and bringing more cultural events,” said a visitor.
“There is huge appreciation and motivated comments I am receiving at my work all week,” Vikas Sharma, Chair of Indian Community Southland, told The Indian Weekender in an email.
Pictures: Monica Toretto