Diwali 2017 celebrations in New Zealand

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DIWALI 2017 CELEBRATIONS IN NEW ZEALAND

न्यूजीलैन्ड मे दिवाली उत्सव 2017

Diwali 2017 celebrations are popular across all cities in New Zealand. The Diwali festivals organized by city councils in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and many other cities are very popular not only with Indians but all the communities in New Zealand.

Diwali, the festival of lights is on Thursday, 19^th October, 2017.

Diwali is celebrated in all parts of New Zealand and the events are held on different dates. These dates are decided as per convenience of majority of people and are usually on nearest Saturday or Sunday. The events in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Waikato Hamilton are famous ones.

Hamilton Diwali Mela (Mela मेला is Hindi word for gathering or fair)
Gallagher Even Room 1, WINTEC, City Center, Hamilton
Sun 24th Sep’17 3pm – 6.30pm
Waitakere Diwali Festival,
The Trusts Arena, 65-67 Central Park Dr, Henderson, Auckland
Sun 1 Oct’17 1pm – 10pm
Diwali 2017 Whangarei Forum North
7 Rust Avenue Whangarei
Sun 1st Oct’17, 11.30am – 4pm
Entry fee $12 per person (Including food and entertainment), children under five gets free entry
Diwali Celebration
St Mary’s Hall, Sewell St, Hokitika Westland
Sat 7th Oct’17 6pm – 11pm
Diwali Mela 2017 in Papatoetoe, Auckland
Eric Baker Place, Papatoetoe
Sat, 7th Oct 2017, 2pm till late
Harbhajan Maan live performance
Auckland Diwali Festival 2017
Aotea Square, Queens Street, Auckland
Sat & Sun, 14th and 15th Oct, noon to 9pm
Waikato Diwali Festival 2017
Waikato University Grounds, Hamilton
Sat 21 Oct, 12-8:30 pm
Singapore Airlines Christchurch Diwali 2017
Horncastle Arena, Jack Hinton Dve, Addington, Christchurch
Sat 21 Oct’17, 2pm – 9pm
Diwali 2017 Wellington
TSB Bank Arena, Queens Wharf, Wellington
Mon 23 Oct (Labour Day), 1.30pm – 9.30pm
Queenstown Diwali Night
Skyline Gondola, Restaurant & Luge, Brecon Street, Queenstown
Sat 4 Nov’17, 6pm – 11:30pm

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