‘Waitakere Diwali,’ held at the Trusts Stadium on October 24, was, according to many, one of the most impressive events held in New Zealand.
With a total of about 15,000 men, women and children in attendance at the peak of the Festival, the Complex was replete with fun and laughter and the Stadium was chockablock, making it one of the largest indoor-Diwali events in the world.
Ram Lila, bringing to life one of the most popular legends of India, was among the highlights of the daylong programme, presented by the students of the Waitakere Hindi School.
A traditional ‘Aarti’ song, rendered at the beginning, set the mood for the Festival, followed by the New Zealand National Anthem (in Maori and English) to the accompaniment of Harmonium and Tabla.
A Unique Culture
I believe Auckland will be poorer if such community-based functions become a victim of increased bureaucracy and political whim of centralisation.
As was witnessed, each of Auckland’s localities has its cultural uniqueness, which should be retained to magnify the rainbows silhouetting the cultural landscape of Aotearoa. This was shining from the background of the magnificent Waitakere Ranges on a beautiful Labour weekend at the Trust Stadium in Henderson.
The day’s programme saw young performers from nine Primary, Intermediate and High School students, who participated in the recently held Schools Dance Competition.
Ram Lila, a speciality of ‘Waitakere Diwali,’ was the star attraction.
Costumes from India, imported for the Festival, enhanced the authenticity of the ‘Ramayan’ characters. Weeks of rehearsals and mastering of the sound recording and scene selection, took this item on a par with some of the professional renditions seen in India and elsewhere.
Almost everyone was able to understand and appreciate the great Indian epic, portrayed with clarity. The devotional ‘Chaupaais’ (quadruplets) from Ramayan, sung in the traditional tunes and the narration of the purpose and the origin of Diwali made this item a treasure-chest of knowledge.
Although narrated in Hindi, the audience watched and listened in rapt attention, observing pin drop silence, giving credence to the adage that ‘Music is Universal.’
It was no surprise that a large number of New Zealanders from other ethnic groups enjoyed the programme.
Spectacular Fireworks
Not that those with a taste for contemporary music and dance were neglected. There were a number of items that tempted people to get up and dance – if only there was space in the Stadium to do so!
The fireworks that followed a number rendered by the Waitakere Senior Citizens Group (which is a part of the Waitakere Indian Association) was truly spectacular.
This item took a new turn this year, with the stage reverberating with Punjabi Bhangra in which the youngsters presented popular Bollywood numbers. In the tradition set some years ago, the Bhangra group led the audience to the grounds for a magnificent, ten-minute fireworks display.
With the galore of more than 30 craft and goods stalls and 15 food stalls, people of all tastes had a grand Diwali day experience.
Community Event
The success of ‘Waitakere Diwali’ was manifest in the fact that it continues to be a community event, managed by Waitakere Indian Association.
This was proof that dedicated and successful community organisations, which appreciate their respective cultures and traditions, are best suited to organise such events in partnership with the local Government, which should allow the community to sit in the driver’s seat when organising such events.
The Waitakere City Council (which ceases to exist from today) was a shining light in leading a successful community-local government partnership, which the Super City should take on board.
Ethnic Affairs Minister Pansy Wong, who was the Chief Guest, assured the residents that ‘Waitakere Diwali’ would remain an annual event, even after the formation of the Auckland Regional Council, with seven merged Councils.
“We will continue to celebrate New Zealand’s cultural diversity and ‘Waitakere Diwali’ has become an important festival in our social calendar,” she said.
Among the other dignitaries were Members of Parliament Chris Carter, Dr Rajen Prasad and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi.
Thakur Ranjit Singh is a community worker associated with the Waitakere Indian Association and a media student at the AUT University in Auckland. Email: thakurji@xtra.co.nz
