Gold Reef City lights up for Diwali festival

THE GOLD Reef City Theme Park will become an array of colour and festivity as the South African Hindu Maha Sabha (SAHMA) prepares to host the Gauteng Diwali Festival.

The festival, which takes place on October 31 will be begin with a havan prayer and culminate in a fireworks display and bhangra by Lotus FM.

“The public are invited to participate in the havan, and all prayer items required for the prayer will be provided – participants are merely requested to be present at the venue at least 15 minutes before the prayer commences,” said Pauline Naidoo of the SAHMS.

There will be a variety of entertainment for everyone in the family.

“Patrons can buy Indian clothing, jewellery, religious goods, arts and crafts, cookware and spices. There will be vegetarian food stalls,” she said.

For the children SAHMS in conjunction with the Centurion Hindu Society will host a kiddies’ activity stall.

“The kids will be kept busy with a host of activities for short periods of time. There will be games, movies, reading, and art and craft activities.”

A temple tent will be available for visitors to offer worship throughout the day and enjoy bhajans, kirtans and prasadam.

“As part of our seva project, the SAHMS together with the Food for Life will be doing a feeding scheme for the aged and for children’s homes. People will be brought to the festival, given meals and provided with entertainment. The children will be treated to a few hours of fun and excitement in the theme park, a first-time experience for many of them.”

Entertainment throughout the day will vary from dance, and song to sketches and music in the various Hindu languages.

Call Pauline Naidoo on 082 875 9709, or e-mail her: phoomoney@gmail.com