Performer registrations open for Labour Weekend festival
SUMMARY
- Performer registrations are now open for the 2018 Auckland Diwali Festival.
- The festival will take place in Aotea Square and Queen St on Labour Weekend (Saturday, 20 and Sunday, 21 October).
- People keen to get involved can apply at aucklandnz.com/diwali
Auckland Diwali Festival organisers want to hear from performers interested in being part of this year’s festival, which attracts thousands of spectators and is one of the most popular annual cultural festivals on Auckland’s calendar.
Hundreds of local performers appear at the Auckland Diwali Festival every year, in addition to headline acts travelling from India.
The 2018 festival will take place in Aotea Square and on Queen Street on Labour Weekend – Saturday, 20 and Sunday, 21 October.
The event brings together Aucklanders and visitors of all ages and ethnic backgrounds to celebrate and experience traditional and contemporary Indian culture in its many exciting forms.
It features live music and dance performances by local and international performers, a broad range of Indian foods, sweets and crafts, street theatre and workshops, and wraps up with a dazzling fireworks display.
The festival is delivered by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) on behalf of Auckland Council, in conjunction with founding partner Asia New Zealand Foundation.
Event Production Manager Leisa Siteine says the production team is on the look out for a wide range of performance styles.
“We have both the main stage and street performance programmes to fill, and we want to present a wide range of contemporary, traditional, classical and folk Indian performance styles and traditions to festival goers.
“We want to share the rich tapestry of Indian culture with a diverse range of performance styles and aim to curate a programme with representation of the many Indian communities.
“We have a wonderful breadth and depth of local dance and musical talent here in Auckland, and with thousands of people coming to the Auckland Diwali Festival every year, it’s a fantastic opportunity for performers to increase their exposure and be part of a fantastic festival. If you are part of a group that specialises in a specific Indian performance style, we want to hear from you.”
Groups and performers who would like to be considered for stage performances, street performances and the Radio Tarana Bollywood dance competition at the 2018 Auckland Diwali Festival need to apply by 10 August.
The event is also the largest vegetarian festival in the country. Auckland Diwali Festival stall sites are available for vegetarian food, sweets, craft, and henna vendors, or to promote community organisations and businesses. Applications for food stalls will open in mid-June.
Further information, online application forms and dance competition judging criteria can be found on www.aucklandnz.com/diwali or by emailing the Auckland Diwali Festival team at [email protected].
NOTES TO EDITOR
- The Auckland festival is inspired by Diwali or Deepavali (row of lamps), an important and ancient Indian festival colloquially known as ‘The Festival of Lights’. It is celebrated by people in India and Indians living abroad. Families light lamps, candles and fireworks to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness, wisdom over ignorance, and good over evil.
- Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali is also celebrated by non-Hindus.
- The Auckland Diwali Festival was first held in 2002, initiated by the Asia New Zealand Foundation and delivered in partnership with the then-Auckland City Council (now Auckland Council). It was set up to raise public awareness of traditional Indian culture, and acknowledge the contribution made by the country’s Indian communities during their long history in New Zealand.
- The religious festival’s annual dates are decided by the lunar calendar. The Auckland Diwali Festival is timed to coincide with both the observance of Diwali and the Wellington Diwali Festival, with which it shares its founding partner, the Asia New Zealand Foundation, and visiting international performers.