Services to Schools

Diwali

The Festival of Lights — Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness and the Indian New Year. Lakshmi Puja, Rangoli art, and celebration activities related to this popular Hindu festival are also covered in this topic. SCIS no. 1807262

Filter by media type

Display as

Diwali /Deepavali in New Zealand

Diwali is also known as Deepavali, Dipavali, Dewali, Deepawali, or the Festival of Lights. It is celebrated in October or November each year. Diwali celebrations can last for about five days.

Diwali festival

Diwali festival

It's India's biggest and most important festival, Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights - a Hindu celebration of the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil. The Auckland Diwali Festi...

World at night: India

World at night: India

Our correspondent in India, pop. 1,170,938,000 (est. 2010) is Bangalore-based, Shoba Narayan... festivals of India - tonight, the celebration of Diwali - the festival of lights which marks the vict...

Indians: religion and kin

The growth of Indian religions and celebrations in New Zealand.

Research papers

Whose Diwali is it?

Factors that have transformed Diwali including support by Auckland council.

Diwali

These children dressed in traditional costume for dance performances at Auckland’s Diwali celebrations in 2004. The festival of Diwali is now a popular public celebration in several New Zealand cit...

Being an Indian New Zealander

In this filmed interview, Iyer, an Indian woman living in New Plymouth, talks of the need to explain some Indian cultural practices to other New Zealanders, particularly children.

Dr Ghani's interview

Interview with Dr. Ghani , President of Waikato Ethnic Council about the Diwali function organised by the Indian Cultural Society on 26/10/08

Indian immigrants in New Zealand

Indian immigrants in New Zealand

Indian Cultural Society - history

The origins of Diwali celebrations in the Waikato.

Colourful Diwali dresses

Colourful Diwali dresses

Pongal Day and Deepavali Day photos

Photos of Pongal and Diwali taken by the President of the Tamil Society of Waikato.

LIH Diwali 2012, TRMC event 17

LIH Diwali 2012, TRMC event 17

Sattriya dance

Indian music, food and dance lit up Wellington recently when a renowned dance troupe from northeast India helped celebrate the annual Diwali Festival of Lights. Lynda meets award winning internatio...

Diwali quotes in English and Hindi to express wishes to friends and family.

Food eaten during Diwali.

Performer at Diwali

Diwali is an ancient Hindu festival that marks the beginning of the new year.

Lantern use to celebrate Diwali.

Diwali – The festival of light

This video explains what Diwali means for different groups of people in India.

Diwali meaning, festivities and traditions.

Diwali - festival of Lights

Celebration of Diwali that includes good food, fireworks, coloured sand, and lamps.

Diwali Auckland 2012

Henna being applied to a hand during Diwali.

Effects of fireworks in Diwali

Noise and air pollution at Diwali.

Let’s Celebrate Diwali

Lesson plan to help comprehension and celebration of Diwali.

What clothes are worn for Diwali?

Special clothing is traditionally worn for the Hindu festival of lights called Diwali.

Diwali preparations and cleaning

Tips and advice on how to clean and prepare your house for Diwali.

Lakshmi Puja on Diwali

Lakshmi puja or the worship of the goddess of wealth and its significance.

Lamps lit for the Diwali festival.

A gallery of items related to craft ideas for Diwali.

Diwali recipes – sweets and snacks

Sweets, snacks and main course recipes for Diwali.

Rangoli designs

A gallery of items on Rangoli (colourful traditional art) for Diwali.

Diwali in Adelaide

Diwali in Adelaide.

The meaning of Hinduism, the history, and its festivals.

Significance of Deepam

The significance and place of diyas (lamps) in the celebration of Diwali.

Teaching kids the story of Diwali

Lesson plan covering social science, maths, art and literacy.

Leicester Diwali celebrations

Article about the biggest Diwali celebration outside India.

Indian Diwali henna designs

During Diwali Indian women and, girls wear Mehndi/henna on their palms, shoulders, full hands and legs.

Spiritual significance of Diwali

An understanding of the spiritual preparation of oneself for Diwali.

Tradition of fireworks

Fireworks have become an important part of Diwali celebrations.

Facts in brief about Diwali and celebration around the world.

Essential guide to celebrating Diwali

This guide deals with all aspects of Diwali and a chance to enjoy the festival with a family.

Five days of Diwali

Five days of Diwali, their significance and links to legends and traditions.

Story of Diwali

Cartoon animation of the story of Diwali.

Indian classical dance

Indian classical dance

Most cultures in the world have their own form of dance, performed with traditional music and costumes.

Diwali downunder

Looks at the transformation of Diwali by various organisations as an expression of self-identity.

The Hindus Hogmanay

The Hindus Hogmanay

This 1919 article mentions Hogmanay and Diwali, two cultural festivals that celebrate New Year.

Woman preparing Indian food

Woman preparing Indian food

Diwali is not complete without its special cuisine! Weeks before the actual day, the women in the family will prepare traditional delicacies for family and friends. These sweets will be exchanged o...

EPIC contains a number of databases with useful information related to New Zealand history and first contact between Polynesian, Māori and Pakeha including the Bridget Williams Books collections.

A Jungle holiday

Book extract that mentions the Diwali festival.

Diwali –in pictures

Diwali also known as Deepavali and the festival of lights is an ancient Hindu festival.

Hindu woman holding a lamp

Hindu woman holding a lamp

Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions. Originating in India, it has around a billion followers. Indians came to New Zealand in the late 18th century. Most of the Indians came from the Ind...

Hindu festivals

A list of the major Hindu festivals including Diwali.

What’s eaten at Diwali?

Diwali, the festival of lights is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs.

Diwali essay and poems

Poems, an animated multilingual rhyme and an essay for an eco-friendly Diwali.

Ten facts about Diwali…

Discover the fascinating festival of lights.

Festivals and Celebrations

Festivals and Celebrations

Matariki, Christmas, Easter and more recently Chinese New Year and Diwali are some of the festivals New Zealanders celebrate. Find out about our religious holidays, festivals, traditions and storie...

Diwali (festival of lights)

Diwali (festival of lights)

Diwali, known as the Hindu Festival of Lights has been celebrated for more than 2,500 years. It falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. This entry is abou...

NZ curriculum and Diwali

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most popular Hindu festivals. Diwali in 2020 begins on 12 November and will continue for five days.

Chalo (come), let′s celebrate Diwali!

Diwali (or Deepavali), the Indian Festival of Lights, is one of India's most popular festivals. It marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and celebrates the triumph of good over evil.

Diwali: What is it?

Diwali is the five-day festival of lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world.

Articles from the Ready to Read series, set in New Zealand, which describes an Indian girl’s experience of the five-day festival of Diwali.

Christchurch City Libraries page about Diwali.

Diwali kids fiction

Auckland Libraries list of wonderful Indian and Diwali themed fiction for kids.

Diwali kids fiction

Auckland Libraries list of wonderful Indian and Diwali themed fiction for kids.

Christchurch City Libraries page about Diwali.

BBC teaching resources for Diwali feature dance, music, assemblies and stories.

Diwali: The festival of lights

Learn about Diwali through these resources from the ABC.

Diwali is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year.

The Epic that inspired Diwali

Explore the epic story that has inspired one of the biggest Hindu celebrations in the world.

New Zealand and India on the airways

In honour of Diwali, Sarah Johnston has been listening to how ties between New Zealand and India have been recorded on the airwaves - and saved in the archives of Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.

Top results for Diwali from AnyQuestions

Diwali (festival of lights)

Diwali (festival of lights)

Diwali, known as the Hindu Festival of Lights has been celebrated for more than 2,500 years. It falls in either...

Senior Primary

Festivals and celebrations (New Zealand)

Festivals and celebrations (New Zealand)

New Zealand observes many different festivals and celebrations throughout the year. These include arts , music and...

Senior Primary

See all 2 related entries on AnyQuestions