Festival news

Click on your city to find out more about the events, performances and exhibitions you can see at this year's Diwali celebrations:
 

   Auckland: Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October 2008

   Wellington: 10-day Festival Programme from 17 to 26 October 2008

Opportunities for schools

We give schools the opportunity to learn about Indian culture and interact with Indian artists. There will be free performance workshops with visiting international artists. Resources for teachers are also available here.

Auckland

Monday and Tuesday, 20-21 October at Auckland City Central Library, Lorne Street.
Contact Lin Kaiser by email or phone (09) 307 7764

Wellington

Thursday and Friday, 23-24 October at Capital E, Civic Square. Click here for information and a booking form.
Contact Murali Kumar by email or phone (04) 803 8698.

Diwali 2007 highlights

Here are some of the images from the Diwali Festival of Lights 2007 held in both Auckland and Wellington:

Background to Diwali

Diwali, also known as Deepavali (literally “a row of lamps”), is perhaps the most important and ancient of the Indian festivals. It is celebrated throughout India as well as in Indian communities around the world.

It is colloquially known as “The Festival of Lights” - the time when families light small oil lamps (known as diyas) and candles around the home and set off firecrackers and fireworks.

Traditionally Diwali is celebrated for five days, each day having its own significance, rituals and myths. Diwali takes place at the new moon, on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartik or Karthika (October/November). This is at the beginning of the winter season and is called the “darkest night of the year”, so lamps are lit to brighten this moonless night.

Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali has now crossed the bounds of religion and signifies many different things in different areas of India. For example in Gujarat, the original home of many Indian New Zealanders, the festival honours Laxmi, the goddess of wealth. In north India, it celebrates the god Rama’s homecoming to the kingdom of Ayodhya after a 14-year exile. To light his way and rejoice at his return, the people of Ayodhya illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas and fireworks.

Generally speaking, however, Diwali signifies the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and renewal of life.

Asia:NZ in partnership with Auckland City and Wellington City Council, Diwali Festival of Lights gives the Indian communities the opportunity to share this much-loved cultural tradition with other New Zealanders and their families. This event celebrates not only the traditions of Diwali, but also Indian culture as a whole.

   Related Asia:NZ link: Lantern Festival