Media Release

3 October, 2005

Diwali Festival’s lights get brighter

The Waitakere Diwali Festival will soon be held at The Trusts Stadium in Henderson on Sunday 16 October beginning at 1pm to finish at 10.00p.m. The Festival’s organizers, the Waitakere Ethnic Board (WEB) say that the overwhelming support from both the Indian and wider communities has helped to inspire and motivate them to make this the largest and most inclusive Diwali Festival ever celebrated in Waitakere City.

Manoj Tahal from the WEB and member of the Waitakere Indian Association says that Diwali has great cultural, moral and religious significance to Hindus all over the world but here in Waitakere we are able to share this Indian festival with all our communities. It is a time, he says, for happiness, renewing friendships and working towards collective unity.

Ann Pala, Diwali Project Manager of WEB believes that “we will reach our goal of integration of all diversity in the City of Waitakere”.

A number of major sponsors including the Aucklander, Radio Tarana, Triangle TV and the Waitakere City Counil have thrown their support behind the event together with local Indian businesses.

With a spectacular line up of dancers wearing traditional dresses like the Manipuri Classical Dance dress specially flown in from North East India, the Festival also includes early afternoon Bollywood performances as well as late evening dances by the Sonar Chand Dance Academy and the Philippine Impulse Dancers and a stand-up routine by comedian Ruven Govender. Also included in the program are the Tahitian Drummers, the Samoan Reggae Band and the Maori Kapa haka groups. There will be a variety of ethnic food and merchandising stalls from which the public can purchase food, fashion clothes and other artefacts.

The Member of Parliament for Te Atatu, Chris Carter is one of the confirmed speakers for the night.

In keeping with the ethos of the Diwali, the grand finale of the night will be a dazzling display of fireworks.

ENDS

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