Navratri 2020 celebrations in New Zealand

न्यूजीलैंड मे नवरात्री उत्सव 2020

Due to Covid and lockdown limitations, most of the Navratri organizers may reduce number of visitors or even cancel the program this year. Please send updates to connect@indiansinnz.com so that we can provide information to all. Stay Safe! Stay Healthy! Jai Mata Di.

Navratri festival celebrations 2020 in New Zealand: Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Wellington and other cities – scroll down for programs

About Navratri

‘Nav’ नव means Nine and ‘Ratri’ रात्रि means nights. Navratri mean nine night. In various Indian languages it is mentioned as नवरात्री / નવરાત્રી / ਨਵਰਤੀ / நவராத்திரி / నవరాత్రి / ನವರಾತ್ರಿ / Navaratri / Nav-ratri / Navrathri / Navratram / Naurata / Naurati. The festival is celebrated by all the Indian religions and communities. The festival is celebrated with Prayers and traditional dances. There are many temples (Mandir / मन्दिर / गुरुद्वारा) and associations in New Zealand organizing various programs during Navratri. Every temple Authorities and volunteers put in their heart and soul to celebrate every Indian Festive occasions with great pomp and make us feel at home. click here to see list of temples in New Zealand

Navaratri, the nine days festival, when we worship Goddess Durga with prayers. These prayers are in form of mata ki chowki (माता की चौकी), Durga Puja, devotional songs and traditional dance called “Raas Garba”. This is one of the most popular festival across India, with unique traditional celebrations specially in Bengal and Gujarat states of India.

Navratri 2020 dates (Lunar day / Tithi as per New Zealand time)

• Sat 17^th Oct: Ashwin Adhik Amavasya, Ishti, Navratri begins, Ghat-sthapana, Tula Sankranti, Thulam Sankramam, Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti,
• Wed 21^st Oct: Upang Lalita Vrat, Saraswati Avahan
• Thu 22^nd Oct: Saraswati Puja, Kalparambha (Bengal), Akal Bodhon (Bengal)
• Fri 23^rd Oct: Durga Saptami
• Sat 24^th Oct: Durga Ashtami, Maha Navmi, Saraswati Visarjan
• Sun 25^th Oct: Vijaya-Dashmi, Dussehra, Ayutha Poojai

DANDIYA AND GARBA:

“Raas” or “Dandiya Raas” (डान्डिया रास) or “Raas Garba” (रास गरभा)  is the traditional folk dance form of Gujarat & Rajasthan states of India. It is the featured dance of Navratri evening celebrations. It started from Gujarat and now one can see these dance in almost every city in India and entire world.

Raas Dandiya is organized in all major cities of New Zealand. There are many Dadiya Garba programs before and after navratri.

Garba dance, Mata ki chowki and Prayers are organized every year in almost all the temples and Indian community centers across New Zealand. This year 2020 is different due to Covid situation. Most of the events are either cancelled or there are restrictions on number of people or only virtual prayers / darshan are available.

We humbly request you to please follow government rules and ensure we are safe and healthy. 

CHRISTCHURCH

Navarathri Pooja, 17th Oct 6.30pm onwards at Harvard Community Lounge, 31 Corsair Drive, Wigram. Organized by Sri Ganesh Temple Christchurch

Ratri Before Navratri Christchurch 2020, Sat 26 Sep, 8pm till mid night at Bishopdale YMCA Recreation Centre, 13A Bishopdale Court, Christchurch, Canterbury 8053

Dandiya Raas – Navratri Garba Night 2020, Sat, 17 Oct, 7:00 PM till mid night at Bishopdale YMCA Recreation Centre, 13A Bishopdale Court, Christchurch, Canterbury 8053

AUCKLAND

Sharad Poonam Garba on 31st Oct 7.30 – 9.30pm, at IAMNZ 25 Tui Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland. Organized by Indian Association Manukau New Zealand

Sharad Purnima Rasotsav Garba, 31st Oct, 7.30pm onwards at Shree Swami Narayan Temple, Papatoetoe, Auckland

Ram Krishn Mandir Navratri Utsav – Katha & Prayers, daily garba and dindiya raas from 17th Oct to 25th Oct, 7.30pm onwards at 25 Onslow Ave, Papatoetoe, Auckland

Mata Ki Chwoki and Navratri utsav, 17th Oct to 24th Oct, 7pm to 9pm followed by maha prasad (feast) and Dandiya at Maa Durga Temple, 4/3 Onslow Ave, Manukau Auckland

Navratri Celebrations, 17th Oct 5.45 onwards at East Tamaki Community Hall, 244 East Tamaki Road, Otara, Auckland 2023. ticket $10 per entry. Group discount available

Rangat, Garba Night 17th Oct to 25th Oct, 8pm onwards at Hare Krishna (ISKCON) temple, 1229 Coatesville Riverhead Highway Kumeu, Auckland

Bangaru Bathukamma Celebrations 2020 organized by Telangana Jagruti New Zealand on Fri 23rd Oct, 5pm onwards at Mt Eden War Memorial Hall, 489 Dominion Road, Mout Eden, Auckland 1024

Durga Puja Cultural Programme (virtual on FaceBook) organized by Probasee Bengalee Association Auckland on 23rd Oct, 8pm.

Auckland Malayali Hindu Samajam (AMHS) virtual Navratri Mahotsavam 2020 – a variety of cultural programmes aired on FB page. 17th – 25th Oct 8pm

Navratri program from 17th Oct to 25th Oct, at Shri Ram Mandir, 11 Brick Street, Henderson, Auckland. Katha from 7.20pm. Raas Garba from 8.15pm onwards

Garba & Dandiya DJ Nights, 17th Oct to 26th Oct at Bhartiya Mandir Hall, 7.30pm onwards

Programs at Shri Sai Baba Temple, 12-18 Princes St, Onehunga, Auckland:

• Garba & Dandiya DJ Nights, 17th Oct to 26th Oct, weekdays 8pm to 11pm. Weekends 8pm to 12 mid night.
• Mata Ki Chowki, 18th Oct 3.30pm to 6.30pm followed by maha prasad
• Bommala Koluvu & Lalitha Sahasra-namam chanting, 17th Oct to 26th Oct, 7.30pm onwards

Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam Navarathri Festival for Thamilarasi Nayagi 17th Oct to 26th Oct, at 69 Tidal Road, Mangere, Auckland

Indian Association Manukau Navratri Festival 2020 Garba & Dandiya Raas, 17th Oct to 25th Oct, 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Diversity Center, 25 Tui Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland. Live DJ from 23rd Oct to 25th Oct. Members enter free, non member $5 per person.

Garba and Mata ji prayers at Shree Sanatan Dharam Hanuman Mandir, 14-16 Bay Park Place, Beach Heaven, North Shore Auckland 0626

Garba Night, Indian Gujarati folk dance event on 5th Sep, 7pm to 11pm at 773 New North Rd, Mount Albert, Auckland 1025, New Zealand VARIATION – PLEASE CHECK FB PAGE FOR UPDATES

Dandiya 2020, 26 Sep. Navratri Garba / Gujarati Indian Folk Dance event presented by Pranshi Group. Free entry, Free parking at Mahatma Gandhi Centre (MGC), 145 New North Road, Eden Terrace, Auckland 1021. DATE VARIATION – PLEASE CHECK FB PAGE FOR UPDATES

Let’s Go Garba 2020, Navratri garba dance event on 10th Oct 7pm to mid night at Barfoot & Thompson Stadium, 203 Kohimarama Road, Kohimarama, Auckland 1071

Mahatma Gandhi Center Auckland Navratri 2020 event has been cancelled. Source: Mahatma Gandhi Center – Auckland Indian Association Facebook page

North Shore Indian Association Garba event 2020 is cancelled. Source: Blog post of NSIA

Radha Krishna Mandir Temple Auckland, 145 New North Road, Eden Terrace, Auckland daily prayers and arti.

Durga Puja event by Nandan – Indian Bengali Association in New Zealand will not be open for wider community. Streaming on Facebook shall be available for devotees.

WELLINGTON

Navarathiri Celebrations 17th to 24th Oct and Vijaya Dasami prayers on 25th Oct at Kurinchi Kumaran Temple, 3 Batchelor Street, Newlands Wellington 6037

Navratri 2020 Wellington, 16th Oct to 26th Oct, Bharat Bhavan, 48 Kemp Street, Kilbirnie, Wellington.

HAMILTON

Garba Nights from 16th Oct to 26th Oct, 8pm onwards at Waikato Indian Association, 82 Duke Street (Unit #4 rear building), Frankton, Hamilton.

Sharad Purnima Dandiya Raas, 30th Oct 8pm at Waikato Indian Association Inc, 82 Duke Street, Hamilton. Entry fee: Gold coin donation

TAURANGA

Sanatan Dharam Mandir Navratri Programs: First day of Navratri- 17th Oct. Maa ka Garba / Devotional Dance on Sun, 18th Oct 8pm- 10 pm. Jagran is on 23rd Oct 9:30 pm onwards. Ashtmi, Kanya Puja & flag hoisiting 24th Oct, around 7.30pm.

Navratri Prayers, Garba and Arti in New Zealand temples. Click here to see list of temples in New Zealand.

FREE Event- Global Virtual Navratri Dandiya Night, limited seats. Sun, Oct 11, 2020, 4:00 PM  New Zealand time.

Enjoy and have a blessed festival. Jai Mata Di.

More programs will be posted as we receive details about them. Please click here or email to connect@indiansinnz.com to send listing of program on this page (rights to publish reserved, please click here to read our terms).