The 23rd edition of New Zealand’s largest Indian event, the Auckland Diwali Festival, was celebrated with great enthusiasm on the 19th and 20th of October. Known as the “Festival of Lights,” this annual event is a major highlight for Auckland’s Indian community and the city. Queen Street, Auckland’s central thoroughfare, is closed to traffic for two full days to accommodate the thousands of visitors and the temporary stalls that sprang up along the road. A section of Queen Street was transformed into a vibrant cultural stage where performances were held, with spectators cheering, applauding, and even joining in the dancing.

Around 80,000 people attended the two days event. The celebrations culminated on second day, with a spectacular fireworks display at 9 p.m., drawing 20,000 spectators to Aotea Square and Queen Street who marvelled at the colourful show lighting up the sky.

The 2024 Auckland Diwali Festival officially kicked off on Saturday, October 19th, at 12 noon, with a ceremonial lighting of the traditional Diwali lamp. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, joined by Auckland’s Mayor and other government ministers, participated in the inauguration ceremony. The lighting of the lamp, accompanied by the chanting of Vedic mantras by a Hindu priest, marked the spiritual beginning of the event. In his brief address, Luxon congratulated the attendees and highlighted the cultural and social importance of Diwali, a festival that symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Following his speech, the first of many cultural performances took to the stage, and the entertainment continued non-stop until 9 p.m. on both days of the festival.
Organized by Auckland Council and supported by generous sponsors, including this year’s primary sponsor, BNZ Bank, the Auckland Diwali Festival has grown tremendously since it first began in 2002. Now a cornerstone of Auckland’s cultural calendar, the festival serves as a platform to showcase the rich and diverse culture of India.

It offers a wide array of traditional and modern performances, including Indian dance, music, and arts. In addition to the stage shows, there were also numerous stalls offering a wide range of Indian cuisine, from savoury street food to popular sweets. Attendees could be seen queuing up in front of some of the city’s top Indian food vendors, eager to enjoy their favourite delicacies with friends and family.
A unique aspect of the Auckland Diwali Festival is its adherence to traditional Hindu values. The event is strictly vegetarian, alcoho

l-free, and smoke-free, making it a family-friendly occasion that aligns with the cultural and religious practices of Diwali. However, hosting an event of this scale is no small feat. The two-day celebration requires months of preparation, with an organizing team that begins planning almost nine months in advance. This year, two main stages were set up, with one in Aotea Square and one on Queen Street, along with a dedicated street zone. To add to the festive spirit, special buses were arranged to shuttle visitors from suburbs to the event site, providing a fun and convenient way to arrive.
As in previous years, the 2024 Auckland Diwali Festival was a resounding success.
The weather was just perfect for the occasion, the two days saw sunny skies and perfect conditions for an open-air celebration. The event concluded smoothly, with no major incidents, leaving the community excited for next year’s celebrations. -Yugal Parashar