Diwali Events & Celebrations 2026 New Zealand
click here for Diwali Festival dates, tithi and pooja muhurt (auspicious time for prayers)
Diwali Festivals in New Zealand
Diwali Festivals are very popular across New Zealand. Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, Tauranga, Hamilton Diwali Festivals are few of 1-2 day long festivals attended by people from all communities and religions.
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Diwali Celebrations New Zealand 2026
न्यूजीलैन्ड मे दिवाली उत्सव 2026
Diwali or Deepavli Festival is celebrated in all parts of New Zealand and the events are held on different dates. The dates for Diwali celebrations New Zealand are decided as per convenience of majority of people and are usually on nearest Saturday or Sunday. The events in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Ashburton, Rotorua, Queenstown and Waikato Hamilton are famous ones.
Diwali Celebration New Zealand 2026: Programs
- Pokeno Diwali,
- Flat Bush NZ Diwali,
- Northshore Auckland Diwali Festival
- Manukau Diwali
- Queenstown Diwali, Saturday, 31 Oct 2026, 5pm 11pm, Queenstown Events Centre
- Hutt Valley, Diwali 2025
- Wellington Diwali Festival: 25 Oct, TSB Bank Arena
- BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival, 31 Oct and 1 Nov 2026, Aotea Square and Queens St, Auckland. Fire works on Sun 12 Oct night about 8.50pm from the Aotea Center rooftop – FREE ENTRY
- Tauranga Diwali Festival Sat 7 Nov 2026, 2pm to 9pm, at The Historic Village, Tauranga,
- Christchurch Diwali Festival
- Hobsonville Diwali
- Selwyn Diwali
Diwali Special Events / Programs:
Mitre10 Diwali kids activities, Make your own Diya, DIY Diwali Lantern, Lights in a jar and more
Mandi Bazaar Diwali collection: Garlands, Henna, Diya, Puja items and more
Big Bazaar Diwali collections, puja items, diya, temples, mutti / idols
About Diwali
Diwali, also known as Deepavali or Deepawali, is celebrated on Kartik Amavasya (कार्तिक अमावस्या). Kartik is name of Hindu month and Amavasya means no-moon day. The celebrations usually start two days prior to Diwali and goes for two days after Diwali day. The festival is of significant importance for all communities and religions in Indian subcontinent; specially Hindu, Sikh, Jainism, Buddhism
The occasion two days before is Dhan Teras (धन तेरस) or Dhanvantari Trayodashi which is considered auspicious to buy precious metal like Gold or Silver. This is a practice followed by Indian community introduced by the ancestors which was a way of saving for the future.
On Diwali, people meet and greet their extended family, neighbors and friends. They clean and decorate their house with Rangoli (रंगोली) colorful Diyas (दिया / दिपक), lanterns and lights, to Welcome Mahalaxmi, the Goddess of Wealth and offer prayers. Main prayer is held in the evening and known as Laxmi Puja (लक्ष्मी पूजा) offering prayers to the Goddess of Wealth. Another is Chopda Puja (चोपडा पूजा) where business community pray for better Business for the coming year and worship the Account Books. ‘ Chopda’ means books of accounts. Bandi Chhor Divas (ਬੰਦੀ ਛੋੜ ਦਿਵਸ / बंदी छोड दिवस / Day of liberation) is celebrated with Diwali. It is day to mark return of Guru Hargobind Ji (श्री गुरू हरगोबिन्द जी)
Next day of Diwali is celebrated as Goverdhan Puja (गोवर्धन पूजा) and Annakut (अन्नकूट) and also as the new year in Gujarat. This day community prays to Lord Krishna and prepare variety of feast at home.
Third day of Diwali is celebrated as Bhai Dooj (भाई दूज) which is celebrated by brothers and sisters. The sisters pray for long life and happiness of their brothers and in return brothers gift their sisters. The Marathi language translation of this festival is Bhau Beej (भाऊ बीज).
Diwali in Indian subcontinent is also time when activities related to sowing of new crop starts.
Have a blessed and prosperous Diwali and new year. शुभ दिपावली
