Video will play in Play now Don't auto playNever auto playThe weather didn't ruin the first day of the Auckland Diwali Festival, but protesters had a go at spoiling a "joyous moment", an organiser says. The Auckland Diwali Festival is now co-organised by Asia New Zealand Foundation and the Auckland Council. Roopa Suchdev, operations manager of the Roopa Aur Aap Charitable Trust, said the Auckland Diwali event has become central to community celebrations here. The first two Auckland Diwali Festival of Lights led by the Asia NZ Foundation and the council in 2002 and 2003 were held at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in New North Rd. The 2016 Auckland Diwali is a free event celebrating traditional and contemporary Indian culture, food and fashion.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 15, 2016 03:39 UTC