Diwali Festival of Lights

Diwali - also known as the 'Festival of Lights' - is Wellington's local Indian and South East Asian communities' most vibrant cultural celebration.

Performers dance on stage in traditional clothing as part of the Diwali festival.

Diwali 2023

Pōneke’s annual Diwali Festival of Lights celebration returned to the TSB Arena and Shed 6 on Sunday 29 October 2023 and entertained thousands of Wellingtonians once again. 

With its exciting entertainment, delicious food, and plenty of cultural activities to observe or participate in, Diwali 2023 was a vibrant showcase of India and South-East Asian culture. 

The night ended with a short fireworks display on the Wellington waterfront, honouring the meaning of Diwali, after another successful day of festivities. 

Wellington City Council acknowledges the mahi of the Communities Action Trust (CATNZ) in bringing this event, with support from the High Commission of India, Radio Tarana, and the Indian Weekender.

Check this page next year for 2024 Diwali Festival of Lights details.

Recipes

Create the taste of Diwali at home with these delicious recipes for mysore pak, chole masala and gajar Ka halwa (carrot halwa).

Download the Diwali recipes (4.22MB PDF)

Past events

Enjoy some images of the 2023 Diwali Festival of Lights below.