Diwali Festival of Lights

Indians celebrate in New Zealand

The Diwali festival of lights as it is called in the north of India or the Deepavali festival the name of the south presents a yearly event in Auckland since October 2002. It reflects the vibrant Indian population living in and around Auckland City. The number of Indian immigrants increases steadily.

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Celebrate Diwali Festival

September:

When: Sunday 25 September 2011, 11.30am-10.30pm

Where: Waitakere Trust Stadium, Henderson , get directions

Cost: Free family event

Each year the event stands under a different theme. In the year 2011 it is health and wellbeing. It is a fun event for all family. 

Among the festival favourites are dance performances and a Bollywod dance competition, a fashion parade and art and craft stalls. In keeping of the Diwali traditions Rangoli boards are made and exhibited during the day. Some of the stalls share their traditional henna tattos. 

Indian tastes and smells fill the air at the place before the Trust Stadium and attract festival visitors to indulge vegetarian specialities. The festival finalises with a firework display.
 

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October:

When: 8-9th October 2011, 1pm-9pm

Where: Aotea Square , Auckland City, get directions

Cost: Free event for the whole family

Highlights here are Bollywood dance competition, a snd artist and Indian puppetiers, among many other activities and performances. Food stalls tempt with culinary delights while a firework display ends the festival with a great spectacle.

Indians who call New Zealand their home add with the Diwali festival another facet to New Zealand's vivid cultural life. The festival is a gift well appreciated by New Zealand's  multi ethnic population. It established as one of Auckland's yearly events everyone is looking forward to.

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The following article about the Diwali festival of lights, written by Lakshmi Menon, gives insight in Diwali festival  tradition and origin.

Deepavali Festival in South India

Deepavali, also known as Diwali, is an important festival celebrated all over India. It usually falls around late October or early November on the new moon day. This year, (2008) it is celebrated on 27th October in South India and on 28th of October in North India, according to the calendars. This difference in day is due to the variation in regional calendars. Though there are different myths about this festival the central theme of all remains as one -Good wins over Evil.

It is a 3-day festival in South India, and in some parts it is celebrated for 5 days. Generally, Deepavali celebration in Tamil Nadu is to commemorate the killing of Narakasura, the demon king, by Lord Krishna. In Karnataka it is called as Bali Paadyami to mark the annual visit of King Bali to see his subjects. They also consider this occasion as Festival of Wealth and Prosperity. In Kerala, though celebrated, it is not a major festival like the other parts of South India. In Andhra Pradesh also this festival is celebrated.

Preparations for the celebration of this festival start weeks before with the spring cleaning of the home, and by purchasing new clothes and ornaments. Shopping for crackers and sparklers is a special occasion especially for the kids.

On the main festival day the houses are decorated with artistically laid kolams. The doorways are adorned with garlands of mango leaves and marigolds, known as "torans". New clothes are bought and the womenfolk make various sweets, the favorite being murukku in Tamil Nadu.

Deepavali celebration starts in the very early morning. Waking up during the 'Brahmamuhurta' (at 4 a.m.) is a great blessing from the stand point of health, ethical discipline, efficiency in work and spiritual advancement. One by one all family members take oil bath with seasame oil. It is a customary belief that having an oil bath in the morning on the day of diwali, before sunrise, is equivalent to taking bath in the Ganges.

After the bath they wear the new clothes and put on their new ornaments. Then the children start bursting crackers, symbolising the killing of the demon king Narakasur. Then puja is performed to the family deities before breakfast and offer the neivedyam. Many visit the temples to seek God's blessings. Special sweets are made during Deepavali to rejoice the occasion. The other items prepared during this festival are ukkarai, velli appam, idly, chutney, sambhar, omapudi and boondhi. For lunch, jangri, pathir peni, or one variety of the poli are made.

In the evenings, deepas, also called as diyas, are lighted and kept in the corridors of each house, welcoming Goddess Lakshmi for wealth and prosperity. It is followed by bursting crackers and lighting colorful sparklers, by the young and old alike.

Hindus also believe that departed souls return during this time. As a mark of respect to them, their favorite foods are prepared and placed on banana leaves before the photographs of the departed, and offer prayers to them.

Many companies offer great discounts during this festival. They open new account books on Deepavali, and also give sweets and bonus to their staff.

It is also a day for all to forget the enmity and forgive those who have hurt them, thus glorifying their inner soul with love, removing the darkness of ignorance and ill-feeling.

Another great achievement of celebrating festivals in India is that it strengthens the family unity and social relationships.

Lakshmi Menon writes articles on various topics, including South India tourism. You can visit http://www.enchanting-south-india-vacations.com to know more about this and other festivals of South India.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lakshmi_Menon

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