The lights are turning on in Northland's Indian community as the annual Diwali Festival brightens up spring.
Diwali, popularly known as the Festival of Lights, has a spiritual meaning of "the awareness of the inner light".
Northland Indian Association chairman Ralph Correa wants Saturday's festival to show the diversity of Northland's Indian
community.
"We have about 100 members now and they're not just dairy owners," he joked.
"There's a range of professions, including doctors and nurses, and other business people."
Also increasing in number are non-Indian members.
Mr Correa said Pakeha and Maori members who had married Indian men or women were now also adding variety to the association.
"There's an Indian man who's married a Maori woman, they're both members and she'll be performing a traditional Maori dance on the night."
While many of the association members are of the Hindu faith, many also have Christian beliefs. The association has no religious affiliation.
Diwali celebrates Atwan, the "inner light". Hinduism asserts there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite and eternal. Diwali is the celebration of the inner light, which outshines all darkness, and brings ananda - inner joy and peace.
The five-day festival is celebrated with fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets and worship. Families light oil lamps, known as diyas and candles around the home.
According to the 2006 Census, there are 738 Hindus in Northland.
• The Diwali Festival kicks off at 6.30pm on Saturday in the Whangarei Girls' High School hall on Lupton Ave, and features live Indian music, dances and food. Tickets cost $15 for adults, or $10 for seniors and children. They are available from Daffodil Dairy, Maunu Rd; Maunu Superette; Whau Valley Dairy, Kamo Rd; Shiraz Indian Restaurant.
Picture: FESTIVAL FLAMES: Shambhavi Patil (left), Adishwar Ghose, Anand Arul, Natasha Correa, Christine Sangeetha and Shivam Khambete are preparing to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, tomorrow.