Celebrating Indian festivals in New Zealand often means adapting rituals for work schedules, school routines, and public spaces and that can be both beautiful and bittersweet.
From lighting diyas in office meeting rooms to wearing kurta on campus, Indians in NZ have found innovative ways to share their culture with wider communities. Many schools even encourage children to speak about Diwali or bring mithai to class.
However, it’s not always seamless. Not all workplaces accommodate festival leave. Public celebrations are sometimes misunderstood. And even within the Indian community, not everyone celebrates every festival with the same intensity.
Still, what stands out is the resilience of culture. Families decorate their homes, cook traditional dishes, and attend local community events. Even something as small as a Zoom rangoli competition or a shared thali at work lunch keeps the festive spirit alive.