A Diwali festival to fit in with its Western home
Hip-hop, bouncy castles and Taranaki-made crafts aren’t typical Diwali festival fare, but New Plymouth organisers decided to spice things up this year.
The New Plymouth Indian Community (NPIC) organised the Diwali Mela, Fun Fair and Indian Food Festival at the TSB Stadium on Saturday, and it was a different take on the usual Indian festival of light.
‘‘Diwali is the Indian festival of light,’’ Narayanan Kutty, the president of NPIC, said.
‘‘The light takes the darkness away from your life, from your personal life, the community, the country’s life.’’
The festival is all about fun, colour, and enjoying the community, Natalie Fernandes, the secretary of NPIC, said.
‘‘Now because we’re away from home, we share it here with the wider community as well,’’ Fernandes said.
She said because they’re here in Taranaki, they try to adapt that to the festival.
‘‘We have a little bit of the Western culture,’’ she said.
‘‘We get kiwi crowds and everybody doesn’t like all Indian so we’re giving a balance and mix.’’
There were many local dance acts, as well as a couple that travelled from Auckland and Hamilton.
Dance performances included Bollywood, hip-hop, and belly dancing styles.
Kutty said dancing is a regular occurrence in the community, with dancers practically growing up on stage.
‘‘Quite a few people have grown like that.’’
During the festival the one thing guaranteed to be fully Indian was the food.
‘‘All the food is Indian because that’s what people love,’’ Fernandes said.
Diwali festivals can run up to five days and they celebrate the end of the harvest.