Venkat Raman –
Following increasing public pressure, the Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) is likely to consider the possibility of changing the dates of its Diwali Festival in Auckland to days that are in consonance with the Hindu practices and religious sentiments.
The Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) had announced earlier that Auckland Diwali will be held on October 17 and 18, 2015 at Aotea Square on Queen Street.
Wellington City Council and Asia New Zealand Foundation are scheduled to conduct the Festival in Wellington on October 24 and 25, 2015.
The actual day of Diwali is November 11 this year. Since Hindus observe the Lunar Calendar, there is no fixed date for their festivals, similar to Islamic observances which advance by ten days every year.
Navaratri compatibility
Typically, Diwali is celebrated 20 days after the completion of Navratri, a nine-night Festival sacred to Hindu women. Although all public events relating to most religious observances including Christmas are held before the actual day of their occurrence, it is incumbent on organisers that tradition and protocol are not breached.
A popular religious leader was the first to raise this issue, asking, “Do you realise that ATTED would be celebrating Diwali during Navratri? This is like having the Easter Sunday Service before Good Friday.”
An ATEED official dismissed the query saying that the ‘dates (of Diwali 2015) cannot be changed,’ adding that the dates of future events were being discussed with Asia New Zealand Foundation.
Public discussion
There was considerable discussion about the timing of Diwali Festival this year among the members of the Indian community, following which concerns were raised at a meeting of the officials of the New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA), the Manukau Indian Association (MIA) and a number of other organisations at Mahatma Gandhi Centre located at Eden Terrace.
At another meeting held on Friday, June 12, ATEED is reported to have ‘agreed to look at alternative dates,’ but gave no undertaking that there would be a positive move. Instead, the meeting was informed that obtaining Aotea Square on other dates may be difficult.
Propriety questioned
There are a number of other issues relating to Diwali and the way in which the Festival is being conducted by ATEED. Material obtained by Indian Newslink under the Official Information Act indicate that the CCO has much to answer, not the least of which is the way in which it engages with the Indian media. There is apparently a fee to be paid to attend the Opening Ceremony as a part of the VIP grouping. This newspaper was not informed of the process followed and the material at hand may show that all is not well.
According to the Auckland Council, “Sponsoring community media partners are invited to the formal opening function as part of the rights and benefits of their sponsorship of the 2013 and 2014 events. ATEED appreciates that Indian Newslink is one of the longest standing and largest Indian media outlets in New Zealand but was not in a position to break commitments made with existing sponsors of these events.”
Auckland Mayor Len Brown told this reporter during a recent meeting, “It is possible that media attending the Diwali Opening Ceremony would have to pay some money. But I am not sure.”
Taxpayer money
ATEED is expected to spend $254,650 on Diwali 2015 in Auckland, up from $250,000 spent in 2013 but less than the amount spent in 2014 ($278,850).
The Organisation will receive $90,000 from sponsors this year, compared to $89,000 received last year and $105,192 in 2013.
Indian Newslink will further analyse the information received under the Official Information Act and publish relevant portions in our next issue.
On the other side of town, the Radio Tarana Diwali in Manukau attracts at least 65,000 visitors with free entry to mingle with Hindi film celebrities such as Bobby Deol seen at Tarana Diwali 2013. Picture by Lion Beats
