Deepawali Festival focuses on health

The Rotorua Deepawali Festival is a big hit for the community.

This year's Rotorua Deepawali Festival will feature a yoga competition and cultural show as organisers look to promote community health.

The annual festival will be on Saturday, October 12, at the Rotorua Convention Centre.

In association with Yogathon New Zealand, the Rotorua Deepawali Festival committee will run a Health for Humanity Yoga competition from 10.30am to 11.30am, with prizes on offer.

The yoga competition will follow the opening ceremony at 10am.

An evening cultural show will also be held at the Convention Centre from 6pm, including cultural dances and other performances.

Participation and competition at the festival is free and open to all.

Deepawali, a well-known Hindu festival, is celebrated by the citizens of India, as well as Hindu people in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa, Fiji and other countries.

Deepawali, which is also known as the festival of lights, is a time to celebrate inner light and love.

The Hindu Council of New Zealand has run the festival for the past five years since it was established in Rotorua in 2008.

Each year, an increasing number of community organisations have supported the festival in the spirit of understanding and mutual respect.

From this year, different organisations will be given the opportunity to lead the festival with next week's festival being run by the Maori Indian community.

The evening cultural show is filling up fast so reserve your seats by emailing rotorua.deepawali@gmail.com.