Shine a light

Diwali, one of the most important annual Hindu festivals, was celebrated in style in Novotel Queenstown Lakeside on Sunday by Queenstown-based Indians (from left) Novotel receptionist Ankita Narvekar, Novotel restaurant and bar manager Prasheel Churi, Hilton Queenstown receptionist Renu Pais, Novotel night manager Nitin Sharma and Mercure Queenstown Resort Hotel porter Ritesh Gohil.

The men, wearing kurta pyjamas, and women, wearing Punjabi dresses, joined friends in Fernhill for a traditional night of Indian treats and cuisine and socialising, then firecrackers when dark.

It is believed Novotel Queenstown Lakeside is the only hotel in New Zealand which actively caters for both Indian and Chinese travellers by offering the creature comforts of home, including accurate menus, Indian media and translated literature.