The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival is set to return to the city centre this year with several new additions aimed at broadening the experience for attendees.
Organised by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the festival will take place over the weekend of October 19-20, but events will begin early this year with a 3D projection mapping display on the Auckland Town Hall starting Oct 14.
According to Event Director Duane Wichman-Evans, the projection will combine technology with traditional Diwali themes. "We’re using the display to introduce the story of Diwali and build anticipation for the main festival."
Other new features include a Lightbox art exhibition at Bledisloe Lane, which will showcase work by artists Tiffany Singh and Jessie Kanji, as well as a Bollywood movie marathon at Event Cinemas and a themed photo booth at Aotea Centre.
Photo: BNZ/Supplied
The festival will also retain many of its traditional features, such as food stalls offering Indian dishes, arts and crafts, henna designs, and live performances. Jaswinder Kaur, a returning food stall holder and chef at Heritage Cuisine of India, said, "We want to share the authentic tastes of India, rooted in the cultural essence of Diwali."
Additionally, two forums—"Indian Cooking Made Easy" and "The Young Entrepreneurs of Auckland"—will be hosted at the Aotea Centre, offering discussions on Indian culinary traditions and youth innovation.
Nick Hill, Chief Executive at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, emphasised the importance of the festival for Auckland’s cultural scene. "This event showcases the contributions of Auckland’s Indian community and offers everyone a chance to experience something new," Hill said.
The event, now in its 20th year, attracted over 65,000 people in 2023, and the footprint will be expanded to include Lorne Street, the Central City Library, Event Cinemas, and Aotea Centre in the hope of attracting even more visitors this year.
Dan Huggins, CEO of BNZ, reiterated the festival's values of light, renewal, and community. "As sponsors, we see this as an opportunity to engage with Auckland’s diverse population in a meaningful way," Huggins said.
The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival is free to attend, family-friendly, and smoke- and alcohol-free. Diwali, often called the festival of lights, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, with this year’s festival aiming to offer something for everyone, whether they are long-time attendees or first-time visitors. For the full schedule of events, visit www.aucklandnz.com/diwali.
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