Deepawali Festival lights up with happiness

Cherie Taylor | 10th November 2009

Sari dressing and ancient Indian art were popular workshops for the thousands of people who checked out the Deepawali Festival.

The Indian cultural festival was held at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre at the weekend, a smokefree, meat-free and alcohol-free public festival celebrating Indian culture and food.

Deepawali, or Diwali, is a Hindu festival celebrated by the Indian community all around the world. It is a festival of lights, symbolising the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness.

Event co-organiser Guna Magesan said the centre was packed with about 4000 people attending the festival, the second time it has been held in Rotorua.

"We were very surprised. We don't know how we got so many people under one roof. Everybody was pleased ... there was lots of support," Dr Magesan said. "I think a lot of people wanted to come and see what it was all about because it was smokefree, alcohol-free and meat-free."

Extra sari workshops were put on because of demand, Dr Magesan said.

"Many ladies wanted to learn how to wear the sari. Lots of European women went to the workshops. They all looked beautiful. It was very popular."

A lot of people learned how to cook Indian food like roti and checked out the ancient art of rangoli, designs made using coloured rice and flour.

There was a fireworks display on Saturday night.

"Everyone got a little piece of happiness from the festival," Dr Magesan said. "It's a positive thing for Rotorua.