History was made in Auckland as the Hindu Foundation of New Zealand, with the support of the Consulate General of India, hosted New Zealand’s first-ever Dev Deepawali (or Dev Diwali) celebration. The landmark event took place on Saturday, 6 December, at the Athia Trust Community Hall in Onehunga, drawing an impressive and diverse crowd from across the community.
A wide range of community leaders and representatives from cultural, social and religious organisations graced the occasion. Distinguished attendees included the Consul General of India Dr MM Sethi and his family, Members of Parliament Dr Parmjeet Parmar and Rima Nakhale, Business Advisory Committee Chair Sunny Kaushal, community leader Siva Killari, Hindu Foundation founder member Anurag Rasela, President Sunil Das, Ram Lingam, and many other prominent figures, reflecting the growing multicultural engagement with Hindu festivals in New Zealand.
Dev Deepawali—literally meaning “the Diwali of the Gods” is a deeply revered Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon night (Purnima) of the Kartik month which occurs 15 days after main Deepawali festival. While Diwali celebrates light among humans, Dev Deepawali marks the day when the deities themselves descend to Earth, making it a spiritually uplifting occasion of divine welcome.
The festival is most famously observed in Varanasi, where millions of earthen lamps (diyas) illuminate the Ganga ghats, transforming them into a radiant spectacle often described as a “stairway to heaven.” The celebration is rooted in the legend of Lord Shiva’s victory over the demon Tripurasur, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Rituals include grand Ganga aartis, holy dips in the Ganges for purification, spiritual chanting, and the lighting of thousands of diyas.
Dev Deepawali, is also known as Kartik Purnima, Tripurari Purnima, or Tripura Purnima.
Around 300 participants attended the 2½-hour programme, which showcased an uplifting blend of devotional bhajans, classical dance performances, heartfelt speeches from invited dignitaries, and soul-stirring musical renditions. The hall buzzed with positive energy as families, children, youth groups and seniors came together to experience this sacred festival for the first time on New Zealand soil. A standout moment of the night came from a lively kirtan session led by talented young musicians, whose infectious beats and enthusiasm got everyone on their feet. The evening also included raffle draws and concluded with a generous vegetarian dinner served to all attendees, reinforcing the spirit of community bonding and shared celebration.
The enthusiasm among participants was unmistakable, with many expressing pride and joy in witnessing the introduction of such an important festival to New Zealand’s cultural calendar. Dignitaries were formally honoured with a ceremonial sash/scarf and a special memento from the Hindu Foundation, acknowledging their support and contributions.
In his closing remarks, Anurag Rasela extended heartfelt gratitude to the dignitaries, performers, volunteers and attendees for making the event a resounding success. He also thanked the Indian Consulate for its invaluable support in bringing this spiritually significant festival to New Zealand and expressed hope that Dev Deepawali would become an annual celebration, fostering unity, cultural understanding and devotion among future generations. -Yugal Parashar