Diwali 2021 Celebrations New Zealand

Diwali Festivals in New Zealand

Diwali Festivals are very popular across New Zealand. Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch Diwali Festivals are few of 1-2 day long festivals attended by people from all communities and religions.

Due to Covid19, there may be changes in what used to happen so far during Diwali celebrations in New Zealand.

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Diwali  Celebrations New Zealand 2021

न्यूजीलैन्ड मे दिवाली उत्सव 2021

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 2021: Programs (Subject to change as per Covid19 alert levels / lockdown)

• Auckland Diwali Festival, 30-31 Oct 2021, Aotea Square, Auckland ONSITE FESTIVAL CANCELLED. ONLINE CELEBRATIONS ORGANISED
• Sky Tower Auckland shining in bright yellow and vibrant fuchsia to celebrate city’s most colorful cultural festival, Diwali
• ANZ Diwali Competition, click here to visit link
• Otepoti Dunedin Diwali 2021, 7th Nov, 11am to 4pm at Otago Museum. Event by Arasan NZ Trust and Otago Museum
• Christchurch Diwali, 23rd Oct, 2pm to 9pm, Hagley Park North, Rolleston Ave, Christchurch CANCELLED
• Tauranga Diwali Festival, 6 Nov 2021, 3pm to 8pm, Historic Village, Tauranga (Gold coin entry) Tauranga city council Diwali Festival 2021 Event page POSTPONED
• Waitakere Indian Association Diwali Mela, 17 Oct, 11am to 10pm at Trusts Arena, Henderson, Auckland
• Wellington Diwali Festival, 25 Oct, 1.30pm to 9pm at TSB Arena and Shed 6, Wellington (Gold coin entry)
• Deepawali Puja Kurinchi Kumaran Temple Wellington, 4th Nov, 8.30am till 12 noon

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