Diwali Festival Stall

Since early 2001 Diwali has been celebrated as a public event in Auckland. In the early days the celebration was at Mahatma Gandhi Centre on New North Rd. Now, with sizeable Indian population in Auckland, Diwali is celebrated as a festival organised by Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development in Auckland’s CBD.  It is a two day, one week-end, event near to Diwali each year. Attendance at the Diwali Festival is from people of all races and ethnic background. About 100,000 people partake in the Festival. The Festival has music, entertainment such as dances and performances and food stalls. 

VPNZ is one of the few organisations selected each year to have a food stall at the Festival. Our stall is very popular for our pav bhaji, bhel, panipuri, mango lassi, and frankie. 

Apart from participating in the Diwali Festival, VPNZ has utilised the event, since 2009, as a fund raiser. Thanks to the tremendous support of the volunteers, committee members and their families such participation has been possible. The task requires mammoth effort from making application for a stall to attending Council meetings, to preparing the food, to arranging transportation, and to manning the stall for 2 days.  But it is always an enjoyable and rewarding project.