Waitakere Diwali changes cultural landscape while maintaining tradition.
Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) is once again gearing for its annual Diwali event at the House of Diwali, the Trusts Stadium at Central Park Drive in Henderson where we will see the biggest indoor Diwali event in New Zealand. Waitakere Diwali, as usual, will be held at Trusts Stadium on Saturday 27th October, 2012 from 11am to 10pm, culminating in grand fireworks display.
Once again the auspicious Hindu festival of lights, Diwali heralds the time for physical and spiritual cleansing. With its message of encompassing all the communities, Diwali has progressively taken a broader role as an as an Indian festival which has transformed more into a socially-bonding community event.
On behalf of Waitakere Indian Association, I wish a happy and prosperous Diwali in advance to all our readers and communities. Let us begin with some Diwali prayers with universal meaning for all:
Asato maa sad-gamaya, Tamaso maa jyotir-gamaya; M?ityor-maa-m?itan gamaya, Om shaanti? shaanti? shaanti?
Lead us from Untruth to Truth, from Darkness to Light, from Death to Immortality. Om peace, peace, peace
Sarve bhavantu sukhinah sarve santu nirAmayAh sarve bhadrANi pashyantu mA kaScit
dukha bhAg-bhavet
Let all be happy. Let all be free from disease. Let all see the Truth. May no one experience sufferings in life.
The annual Waitakere event may perhaps be the last few community–organized Diwali in New Zealand where the community in partnership with its City Council and sponsors, sits on the driver’s seat to organize this bonding event. Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) has been doing this since 2000. It was felt that since Diwali is a Hindu Festival and rooted in Indian culture, it should best be left to the people who know and appreciate its religious, mythological, traditional and now growing social significance and associated sensitivities. Hence, WIA once again is happy to announce and organize this event, with other invited partner and sponsors.
We feel Diwali needs to retain its theme and not be swept by the increasing effects of commercialization, westernization and Hollywood and Bollywood influence. Therefore while mindful of the increasing social bonding significance of Diwali, its theme should not be diluted to such an extent that it merely becomes yet another Western event bereft of any worthy cultural, traditional or religious significance that it currently holds.
It is for this reason that Waitakere Indian Association links with its affiliate, Waitakere Hindi Language and Cultural School to portray the real theme of Diwali event. For many years now, Ram Lila and stage items presented by Hindi School have been a highlight of the event. Choreographed by well known professional Sonal Chand of Sonar Chand Dance Academy, Waitakere Diwali event has been able to maintain the solemnity and tradition associated with Diwali while dishing out religious and cultural reasons through stage shows. This exposure is not only given to New Zealand -born Indians, but also to mainstream Kiwi audience who have started coming in larger numbers to this largest indoor Diwali event at Trusts Stadium in Henderson.
Because of the wider social integration promoted by the message of Diwali, the event has become a springboard that launches better relationship, understanding and appreciation by the wider Kiwi communities towards the broad theme of Diwali.
Diwali celebrations at the heart of government in Wellington, proves a point that with good community leadership and community efforts, migrant communities can enrich their adopted countries with diversity they introduce. Indians and people of Indian origin in general and Hindus in particular have proved this through the medium of the enlightening lights of Diwali and sweetening sweetness of Diwali sweets. Without any doubts, these migrants have enriched the cultural landscape of New Zealand.
May this light and sweetness encompass and bless this country. You all are once again invited to Waitakere Diwali 2012, to be held at the Trusts Stadium, Central Park Drive on Saturday 27th October, beginning at 11 am and climaxing with grand fireworks display at 10pm.
(E-mail: thakurji@xtra.co.nz)
(About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is an executive member of Waitakere Indian Association and a member of its Diwali Celebrations Committee 2012. Further details of WIA and Diwali event can be accessed on its website: www.wia.net.nz)
Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) is once again gearing for its annual Diwali event at the House of Diwali, the Trusts Stadium at Central Park Drive in Henderson where we will see the biggest indoor Diwali event in New Zealand. Waitakere Diwali, as usual, will be held at Trusts Stadium on...
Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) is once again gearing for its annual Diwali event at the House of Diwali, the Trusts Stadium at Central Park Drive in Henderson where we will see the biggest indoor Diwali event in New Zealand. Waitakere Diwali, as usual, will be held at Trusts Stadium on Saturday 27th October, 2012 from 11am to 10pm, culminating in grand fireworks display.
Once again the auspicious Hindu festival of lights, Diwali heralds the time for physical and spiritual cleansing. With its message of encompassing all the communities, Diwali has progressively taken a broader role as an as an Indian festival which has transformed more into a socially-bonding community event.
On behalf of Waitakere Indian Association, I wish a happy and prosperous Diwali in advance to all our readers and communities. Let us begin with some Diwali prayers with universal meaning for all:
Asato maa sad-gamaya, Tamaso maa jyotir-gamaya; M?ityor-maa-m?itan gamaya, Om shaanti? shaanti? shaanti?
Lead us from Untruth to Truth, from Darkness to Light, from Death to Immortality. Om peace, peace, peace
Sarve bhavantu sukhinah sarve santu nirAmayAh sarve bhadrANi pashyantu mA kaScit
dukha bhAg-bhavet
Let all be happy. Let all be free from disease. Let all see the Truth. May no one experience sufferings in life.
The annual Waitakere event may perhaps be the last few community–organized Diwali in New Zealand where the community in partnership with its City Council and sponsors, sits on the driver’s seat to organize this bonding event. Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) has been doing this since 2000. It was felt that since Diwali is a Hindu Festival and rooted in Indian culture, it should best be left to the people who know and appreciate its religious, mythological, traditional and now growing social significance and associated sensitivities. Hence, WIA once again is happy to announce and organize this event, with other invited partner and sponsors.
We feel Diwali needs to retain its theme and not be swept by the increasing effects of commercialization, westernization and Hollywood and Bollywood influence. Therefore while mindful of the increasing social bonding significance of Diwali, its theme should not be diluted to such an extent that it merely becomes yet another Western event bereft of any worthy cultural, traditional or religious significance that it currently holds.
It is for this reason that Waitakere Indian Association links with its affiliate, Waitakere Hindi Language and Cultural School to portray the real theme of Diwali event. For many years now, Ram Lila and stage items presented by Hindi School have been a highlight of the event. Choreographed by well known professional Sonal Chand of Sonar Chand Dance Academy, Waitakere Diwali event has been able to maintain the solemnity and tradition associated with Diwali while dishing out religious and cultural reasons through stage shows. This exposure is not only given to New Zealand -born Indians, but also to mainstream Kiwi audience who have started coming in larger numbers to this largest indoor Diwali event at Trusts Stadium in Henderson.
Because of the wider social integration promoted by the message of Diwali, the event has become a springboard that launches better relationship, understanding and appreciation by the wider Kiwi communities towards the broad theme of Diwali.
Diwali celebrations at the heart of government in Wellington, proves a point that with good community leadership and community efforts, migrant communities can enrich their adopted countries with diversity they introduce. Indians and people of Indian origin in general and Hindus in particular have proved this through the medium of the enlightening lights of Diwali and sweetening sweetness of Diwali sweets. Without any doubts, these migrants have enriched the cultural landscape of New Zealand.
May this light and sweetness encompass and bless this country. You all are once again invited to Waitakere Diwali 2012, to be held at the Trusts Stadium, Central Park Drive on Saturday 27th October, beginning at 11 am and climaxing with grand fireworks display at 10pm.
(E-mail: thakurji@xtra.co.nz)
(About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is an executive member of Waitakere Indian Association and a member of its Diwali Celebrations Committee 2012. Further details of WIA and Diwali event can be accessed on its website: www.wia.net.nz)
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