In a bid to ensure that the country’s biggest Diwali celebration does not become stale, organizers are leaving no stone unturned to introduce a new element with each new installment.

Last year it was an interpretation of the ancient Indian epic Ramayan.

This year, those who attended the celebrations at Aotea Square in Auckland witnessed a live performance of a waiata called “Whanaungatanga”, which mixed Tamil, English and Te Reo Māori.

The cross-cultural song, created by Canadian musician Wilbur Sargunaraj and supported by the Dunedin-based Arasan New Zealand Trust, was released earlier this year and features Maori artists such as Amba Holly, Horomona Horo, Alien Weaponry bassist Turanga Morgan Edmonds and Ngati Awa Kapa Dancers haka.

“This is the first time we’ve performed this song in front of an audience,” said Sargunaraj, who flew in for the event and shared the stage with contemporary Māori artist Allana Goldsmith, of Ngāti Porou and Ngāi Tai descent.

A waiata called “Whanaungatanga”, sung in Tamil, English and Te Reo Māori, was performed during Diwali celebrations at Aotea Square in Auckland.
Photo: RNZ/Blessen Tom

Luxmanan Selvanesan, president of the Dunedin Multicultural Council and chair of the Arasan NZ Trust, says such collaborative projects are important.

“Multicultural New Zealand has a vision for huarahi hou, which means a new path for treaty-based migrant settlement,” Selvanesan said. “As part of this journey, such collaboration, reflecting the interweaving of cultures, is important.

“Whanaungatanga” means “interconnectedness” or “connection”. So, our two cultures – Maori and Indian – are united on stage through music. It’s wonderful,” Goldsmith said.

“New Zealand is a multicultural society based on a te tirithi, or bicultural contract. Now that we are multicultural, we can only move forward with positivity.”

Dancers perform during Diwali celebrations at Aotea Square in Auckland.
Photo: RNZ/Blessen Tom

Meaning of Diwali

The Ramayan tells the story of Ram, who was banished from the kingdom of Ayodhya by his father for 14 years. His wife Sita and brother Lakshman accompany him in his wanderings through the forests.

Sita is kidnapped by the ten-headed demon king Ravan, who takes her to his kingdom of Lanka.

With the help of an army of monkeys, Ram kills Ravan and rescues Sita and the event is celebrated as Dussehra in India and Dashain in Nepal.

Ram returns to Ayodhya with Sita – on the day celebrated as Diwali – and establishes a fair and just kingdom for all.

According to tradition, just as Ayodhya was illuminated with bright lights to mark the return of Ram and Sita, today Hindus illuminate houses, streets and markets to mark the occasion.

Dancers perform during Diwali celebrations at Aotea Square in Auckland.
Photo: RNZ/Blessen Tom

The Indian community in New Zealand prays, exchanges sweets, lights diyas (oil lamps), makes rangolis (decorative patterns created on the floor with colored rice flour) and sets off firecrackers to mark the occasion.

This year Diwali falls on October 31st.

The festival is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains and marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year.

For Sikhs, Diwali coincides with the festival of Bandi Chhor Diwas.

On Diwali in 1619, Sikh spiritual leader Guru Hargobind Singh was released from prison.

Meanwhile, Jains believe that the founder of their faith, Mahavir, achieved nirvana, or final liberation from the cycle of life and death, on this day.

Auckland holidays

As well as festivities in Aotea Square and nearby Queen Street organized by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited over the weekend, one of the city’s oldest Diwali celebrations took place in West Auckland on Sunday, organized by the Waitākere Indian Association.

“Next year we will be celebrating the 25th Diwali in Auckland,” said Sunil Kaushal, president of the Waitakere Indian Association. “Every year we strive to expand and showcase all aspects of Indian culture to the general public. The Ramlila performance (a dramatic presentation of the story of Ram), fireworks display and rangoli competition are the obvious highlights.”

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), colloquially known as the Hare Krishna movement, has been a regular participant in the Waitakere celebrations for many years.

“We come here every year to highlight the spiritual aspect of the festival and spread awareness of our scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita,” said Krishna Chandra Das, secretary of the ISKCON temple in Riverhead, a suburb of West Auckland.

Dancers perform during Diwali celebrations at Aotea Square in Auckland.
Photo: RNZ/Blessen Tom

Organizers of the CBD event believe overall attendance may have surpassed last year’s figure of 65,000, “making it Auckland’s biggest Diwali event ever,” said Jep Savali, group manager of major events at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.

In addition to the usual food stalls, singing, dancing and martial arts performances, new items this year included 3D projections of Indian monuments and landscapes at the town hall, a lightbox art exhibition called “Om Namah Shivay” featuring artists Tiffany Singh and Jesse Kanji, and a painting . an exhibition called “Colors of Diwali” in the center of Aotea.

Anju Desai, curator of the painting exhibition, said many Indian artists in New Zealand felt out of touch with the mainstream.

“Sometimes they need a little nudge and what better way than to showcase your work at New Zealand’s biggest Indian festival,” Desai said.

“Maybe next year we can have live painting demonstrations where artists share their processes and motivations with participants, with classical music and dance leading the way.”

Tabla player Basant Madhur was among the many musicians performing during Auckland’s Diwali festival at Aotea Square.
Photo: RNZ/Blessen Tom

Classical Indian music was a big part of this year’s festivities, with tabla player Basant Madhur and his band entertaining crowds on the Queen Street stage over the weekend.

“Typically, classical music is associated with small, intimate gatherings,” Madhur said. “It’s very rewarding that we can perform in front of such a large audience, many of whom may not have listened to Indian classical music before.”

The festival also showcased the diversity of Indian cuisine.

Besides the usual dosas and chole bature, a traditional dish from the northwestern Indian state of Bihar called litti chokha (smoky balls of fried wheat flour served in a thick eggplant and potato curry) has been a big hit.

“I have lived in New Zealand for 10 years,” said Shweta Jaiswal, food service manager of Taste of Bihar. “We buy almost all types of Indian food here, except my home state of Bihar. I thought, ‘Why not bring our food to Auckland?'”

Ella Kumar, a volunteer at the Auckland Diwali Festival since 2002, said the festival “gets bigger and better every year.”

“This year we have expanded the area to also include the city library,” Kumar said. “Three stages host yoga and over 280 hours of performances.”

Ella Kumar has volunteered at the Diwali festival in Auckland since 2002.
Photo: RNZ/Blessen Tom

Still to come

With Auckland’s celebrations over, other cities are also gearing up for Diwali celebrations over the next three weeks.

Diwali celebrations are planned at TSB Arena and Shed 6 in Wellington on October 27, while Diwali lights will illuminate Hagley Park in Christchurch on October 26. The country’s final Diwali celebrations are expected to take place in nearby Selwyn on November 9.

Hamilton and Rotorua are expected to host Diwali events on November 2.