Festival goers treated to cultural show

It was a colourful display at the Deepawali festival in Rotorua at the weekend. Photo / Supplied

A performance by a North American native nations duo was the highlight of the annual Deepawali festival held in Rotorua.

The day-long programme - celebrating the Hindu faith - held at the Rotorua Convention Centre on Saturday attracted more than 600 people, said festival co-ordinator Guna Magesan of the Hindu Council.

The theme for the festival this year was community health.

The event began with a health for humanity yogathon in the morning which attracted 60 participants training in surya namaskar, or sun salutations, before a hui in the afternoon.

In the evening groups from different cultures, including Chinese, Indian, Nepalese and Maori performed traditional dances and songs.

Native Nations duo Katerina Pihera and Marcus Ridge, both of Rotorua, were the highlight in their first time at the festival, Mr Magesan said.

Mr Ridge had Cherokee, Navajo, and Hopi American Indian connections while Ms Pihera is born and raised in Rotorua with iwi connections to Te Arawa, Nga Puhi and the Czech Republic.

"Their music relates to life and love of native people to help promote connections across the world," Mr Magesan said.

Overall the festival was a huge success, he said.

"We have always had the Hindu and Maori culture leading the programme but now we have a lot of younger people wanting to be involved and different cultures will be able to take the lead in future."

Among the groups participating were kapa haka from Rotorua's Kura Kaupapa Maori School, Natraj School of Dancing, Indiance Dance Group from Auckland, the Malayi Association singers, Chinese dance by Lilian Chan, and the ancient stringed Chinese zither played by Du Yuwen, Bollywood style dance, traditional Punjabi and Nepalese dancing, and belly dancing from Rotorua's Bellyvegas.