The Dunedin Indian Association is hosting a Diwali festival tomorrow, joining millions of people celebrating worldwide.
President Dr Rohit Jain said Diwali was known as the Festival of Lights — the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.
Last year’s event was the first large Diwali celebration to be held indoors and attracted more than 2000 people — Dr Jain hoped tomorrow’s would surpass it.
"There’s lots of sweets, nice colourful dressing, dance music — that’s what we want to see, that’s what as a [society] we need," he said.
"As Indians we want this to be shared out to everybody. We just don’t want to celebrate within our community — we want to celebrate with everyone."
The event had a focus on interaction and activities such as traditional dance and cultural workshops, including henna and sari draping, were on offer.
"It’s not only for you to come here and sit and watch; we ask you to come and join us as well," Dr Jain said.
Different styles of food, dance and dress from India’s 28 states would also be on show.
"What we want to offer them is more than samosas and butter chicken — there are other things, other delicacies," he said.
"India is so big ... what we say is every 2km you will change the language or change the dialect.
"With the Dunedin Indian Association, we’ve got a mix of all of them together. We’re giving them this platform to perform and to represent India. There’s no other way to see it in one night."
Dr Jain hoped the event would continue to grow and Diwali celebrated by more people in Dunedin.
High Commissioner of India to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan, Dunedin mayor-elect Sophie Barker and MPs Rachel Brooking and Ingrid Leary would be there, he said.
• The festival will run from 3pm to 8pm tomorrow in the Edgar Centre’s More FM arena.
Entry is free.
