RNZ Life reporters

1 November 2026

Shakti Garba dance group wearing chaniya choli outfit traditional to Gujarat which is where their dance style is from, at the Auckland Diwali Festival, in central Auckland, on Saturday 31 October.

Aabhas Dole, wearing a traditional bandhani kurta, and his wife Mrun Godbole, wearing a mirrored silk dress - a designer piece from her mother-in-law's boutique, at the Auckland Diwali Festival, in central Auckland, on Saturday 31 October.

Aabhas Dole, wearing a traditional bandhani kurta, and his wife Mrun Godbole, wearing a mirrored silk dress - a designer piece from her mother-in-law's boutique, at the Auckland Diwali Festival on Saturday.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

People celebrating at the Auckland Diwali Festival, in central Auckland.

Celebrating at the Auckland Diwali Festival, in central Auckland.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Janani Vijay Niharika Nidheesh and Lekhya Danda, who performed a Bharatanatyam style of dance from Tamil Nadu in India.

Janani Vijay Niharika Nidheesh and Lekhya Danda, who performed a Bharatanatyam style of dance from Tamil Nadu in India.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Poonam Sharma and Naira Rajpoot wearing a Punjabi outfit, a Patiala suit and Punjabi juti.

Poonam Sharma and Naira Rajpoot wearing a Punjabi outfit, a Patiala suit and Punjabi juti.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Antje Fiedler - her Indian friend took her shopping for this silk sari with zari border - at the Auckland Diwali Festival, in central Auckland.

Antje Fiedler - her Indian friend took her shopping for this silk sari with zari border.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

The Indiance group wearing Gujarati style dress for their Bollywood fusion dance.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

From the NZ Marathi Mitramandal dance group, wearing 9 yard traditional bordered saris (normally they are 6 yards). Their nose piece called a nath is traditional to Maharastra.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Dancers from the Bazinga Buzz group, wearing contemporary dress and headgear.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Ananya Tayade and Ricky Botadra wearing the Mavla Topi hat, the Mavla soldier outfit of army of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from the Maharashtra region.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Nikki Khanna and Vidya Vasavan from the Bolly with Vish dance school, wearing an outfit from Chennai, South India.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Bharat Chawla and Sunil KaushalSupplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

(From left) Franky Wang in a gold suit he chose because it represents hope, prosperity and light - reflecting the meaning of Diwali, with Jaimie Crawford and Sumant Khedkar..Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Rahul and Mahima ChopraSupplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Penny Sun wearing a contemporary Chinese Tang jacket style, made from silk from China, at the Auckland Diwali Festival, in central Auckland.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Tanisha Patel and Shivani Rao from the House of Taal dance group, wearing Gujrati inspired choli from West India.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

ilango Krishnamoorthy, wearing a silk jubba tunic and South Indian dhoti pants.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Santosh Kajal, wearing a traditional Harynvi suit.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Saburi Manu, wearing a churidar dress from Karnataka.Supplied/ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Source: RNZ

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