Celebrating Love, Service and Hope

Sunil Kaushal –

New Zealand is built on its diversity, and we honour the symbols and traditions of Kiwis who have made our country what it is today.

Kiwi Indians are an important part of our social and cultural fabric, and Diwali is a time to celebrate community, family, and hope for the future.

“That’s why we celebrate Diwali each year and recognise its significance,” says Waitakere Indian Association President Mahendra Sharma.

Diwali represents a time of year when Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains throughout the world celebrate important, time-honoured festivals.

Religious significance

For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year, and it symbolises the victory of knowledge over ignorance and good over evil.

Hindus celebrate this triumph by lighting small earthen lamps around their homes and praying for health, knowledge, peace, and prosperity in the coming year.

In addition to the spiritual significance the day holds for Hindus, Sikhs celebrate the release of the Sixth Guru, Hargobind, from captivity by the Mughal Emperor Jehangir, and Jains commemorate Diwali as the day Lord Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankaras, attained Nirvana, or liberation, after his death in 527 BC.

Primary Association

Waitakere Indian Association (WIA) was the first Indian community organisation to celebrate Diwali with the public in 2000.

From a small number of hundreds, it has grown to over 10,000 people from all walks of life, religion and ethnicity attending this much loved event, which is in its 16^th year celebration with the community.

This year, the event is being celebrated on Labour weekend (Sunday, October 23) at Te Pai Courts on Lincoln Road, Henderson.

Besides food, classical, Bollywood dances and spectacular Fireworks, WIA is also proud to host the world-leading Ram Leela artiste from Uttar Pradesh, India.

Shri Ram Mandir in Henderson will also host a two-day conference with these artistes on October 22 and October 23, 2016.

Community connection

Over the years, WIA has played an important role in serving the community in West Auckland, advocating issues relating to the Indian Diaspora.

The Association recognises that in multicultural Auckland, there is multinationalism in the Indian Diaspora too.

The Indian community in West Auckland not only represents Indian and Fijian born residents but also from other parts of the world including Africa, America and Europe.

WIA has also reached out to the local communities on matters of safety and security and advocating issues pertaining to religious last rites.

The Association supports the Waitakere Hindi School, New Zealand’s largest Hindi language school.

Charity and Service

Diwali is a time for dana (charity) and Seva (service).

The alleviation of tangible forms of suffering such as hunger, disease and poverty, is an essential component of the Hindu tradition.

Service is worship, no less than performing a Pooja, practicing meditation or studying scripture.

In the spirit of Diwali, WIA urges you to donate your time and resources for the upliftment of those in need in our community.

Please support your favourite charities this Diwali through both dana and Seva.

As Taittiriya Upanishad says, “Give. Give with faith. Do not give without faith. Give with sensitivity. Give with a feeling of abundance. Give with right understanding.”

For more information, please email wia.admin@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (waitakereindianassociation).

Sunil Kaushal is Vice President, Waitakere Indian Association.