Eastdale Reserve in Avondale burst into life with a riot of colour and joy on Saturday, 25th January 2025 as Vaishnav Parivar (NZ) Inc. hosted its eagerly awaited Kite Festival. From 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., approximately 7,500 to 8,000 people gathered to celebrate a day filled with fun, food, and flying kites, making it a resounding success.
The weather held up just right for kite flying, drawing people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the lively festivities.
Photo: Supplied
High-Flying Fun and Delicious Treats
The festival featured an array of vibrant kites and durable manja (threads) for sale, giving attendees the tools they needed to take to the skies. On the ground, the excitement continued with seven food stalls serving an assortment of delicious dishes, a Chura stall, and refreshing kulfi and Skippy Ice Pops for those with a sweet tooth.
Families were spoiled for choice with activities such as face painting, a drawing competition, thrilling fun rides, and slides. Cultural performances added to the charm, creating a day packed with entertainment for everyone.
Raffle Highlights
As the day drew to a close, all eyes were on the $5 raffle draw that offered 16 enticing prizes. The grand prize—a return airfare for two to Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane—courtesy of Travel Corner, went to a lucky participant holding ticket no. 119.
Photo: Supplied
Community Spirit Shines
The festival didn’t just end with the fun. On Sunday morning, more than 40 committed members of Vaishnav Parivar returned to the grounds for a thorough clean-up, ensuring Eastdale Reserve and its surroundings were left spotless.
Powered by Partnerships
The event was supported by Whau Local Board, The Lion Foundation, and an impressive roster of sponsors, including Travel Corner, Reliance Ventilation Systems Limited, BrainOBrain Education Limited, Cart It Limited, Firewatch – Auckland Central, Best Visa Solutions, Auckland Building Reports, and Time Curtains. Media partners Radio Tarana, The Indian Weekender, Apnu Gujarat, and social media influencer Bhavik Bhatt played a vital role in promoting the festival.
Organisations like Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust and Gujarati Samaj (NZ) Inc. also lent their support, while Auckland Council and Avondale College helped make the event possible.
Photo: Supplied
Looking Ahead
Vaishnav Parivar (NZ) Inc. expressed heartfelt gratitude to all participants, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who contributed to the festival’s success. As they waved goodbye to another wonderful event, the organisers promised to make next year’s celebration even more spectacular.
Mark your calendars—2026’s Kite Festival is bound to soar to even greater heights!
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