Auckland Diwali Festival 2019

Overview

Each year, over 54,000 Aucklanders gather to celebrate one of India's most ancient traditions, the festival of Diwali. Known colloquially as the 'festival of lights', Diwali signifies the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and the renewal of life.

This vibrant festival of lights has become an iconic part of Auckland's calendar. Now in its 18th year, the Auckland Diwali Festival is not be missed, only growing bigger and better with each year.

Aotea Square is annually transformed by the event into a bustling, high-energy and exciting experience. Suitable for all ages, the festival brings local music and dance routines as well as street theatre and workshops. The entertainment cleverly combines traditional Indian culture with a modern, New Zealand-Indian take for a unique experience for all.

And, of course, then there's the food. Auckland Diwali Festival is New Zealand's largest vegetarian festival and in 2019 will see more than 60 street stalls down Queen Street selling a mouth-watering range of Indian food, including bhel puri, sambar, aloo tikki chaat, butter paneer and masala dosa. Grab yourself a sweet treat while you're there — stallholders will be serving up gulab jamun, kulfi ice cream and more of India's famous desserts.

Make sure to stay until the end, as one of the ways Diwali is traditionally celebrated in India is through fireworks. The Auckland festival does not disappoint, with an impressive fireworks display wrapping up the festivities.