Last Saturday, about 100 people of Nepalese descent celebrated "Sakela" or "Chandi" festival at The Looking Glass Garden, Te Puke.
This was the first time this festival, from a country of 27.5 million people landlocked between the Himalayas and the steamy jungles of India, has been celebrated in New Zealand.
Nepalese-origin Kiwis, especially from Te Puke, were happy and proud to be organising the event.
In Nepal, this festival is celebrated for two weeks each year, starting from the auspicious birthday of Lord Buddha.
"Sakela" starts with worship of nature and ancestors followed by dancing and singing in groups. Dances imitate various aspects of daily life, farming and caring for animals.
Considering only a few hundred people of Nepalese origin live in New Zealand, the turnout was exciting. Participants came from Te Puke, Auckland, Christchurch, Ashburton and Waimate, in the South Island.
The Nepalese-origin community of Te Puke and New Zealand thank Gael Blaymires, owner of The Looking Glass Garden, for allowing use of her garden and waiving the entrance fee.