Diwali, the annual Hindu festival of lights, was celebrated at Dunedin Public Art Gallery on Saturday.
Natyaloka School of Indian Dance founder and choreographer Swaroopa Unni said the gallery celebrations included workshops such as sari draping, turban wrapping, bindi wearing and creating rangoli patterns using coloured sand.
The celebration ended with people performing Indian songs and dance routines from Indian classical to Bollywood.
In New Zealand, Diwali was more a celebration of Indian culture rather than any particular faith, she said.
"It celebrates diversity in Dunedin," Mrs Unni said.
The first public Dunedin celebration was last year and more people attended this year.
The celebrations in Auckland and Wellington were "huge" and she wanted more people to attend the free event in Dunedin.
"We hope it gets bigger and bigger and becomes more of a community celebration."
Gallery visitor programmes co-ordinator Lynda Cullen said nearly 400 people attended the celebration on Saturday.
At the celebration, Indian paper cut artist Parth Kothekar created "delicately fine, beautiful, lace-like paper shapes", including butterflies and elephants.
He was brought to the celebration by Asia New Zealand Foundation with assistance from Air New Zealand.
