The Hindu Council of New Zealand, in collaboration with Tiaki Early Learning Centre (ELC), hosted a vibrant Children’s Holi – Festival of Colours on Sunday, 9 March 2025, bringing together families, and community members for a day filled with joy, tradition, and cultural learning.
Tiaki ELC was chosen as the venue for this special event due to its spacious grassed area, access to water for safe colour play, and secure fencing, providing a fun and safe environment for tamariki to enjoy Holi.
A Fusion of Cultures and Traditions
The event began at 10:15 AM with a karakia by Teresa Pou Poasa, followed by a warm Māori welcome from Tāmati Coffey, who served as the Master of Ceremonies. The celebrations continued with Vedic mantras and shlokas recited by children and their parents from the Hindu Scripture classes, creating a truly cross-cultural experience.
Tāmati Coffey, a well-known New Zealand broadcaster and former Member of Parliament, received a traditional Hindu welcome with a saffron scarf, symbolizing respect and goodwill.
Since many attendees were visiting Tiaki ELC for the first time, Centre Manager Sheela Rao took the opportunity to introduce its unique learning philosophy, emphasizing outdoor activities, play-based learning, and sustainability. Families were encouraged to explore the centre’s play areas, orchard, vegetable garden, and learning spaces, providing a deeper insight into its child-centric approach.
By 10:45 AM, the much-anticipated Children’s Holi – Festival of Colours began. The pleasant weather (16-19°C) was perfect for outdoor fun. To enhance the experience, organisers set up a sprinkler for water play, alongside herbal, non-toxic, and eco-friendly colour powder specially sourced from India for children’s use.
A Celebration of Unity and Joy
The festival attracted a diverse mix of attendees, with families from various cultural backgrounds. Tiaki ELC had invited tamariki and whānau from early childhood centres and primary schools across Owhata and Lynmore, offering children a first-hand experience of this cherished festival.
Holi, often called the Festival of Colours, symbolizes joy, unity, and cultural harmony. The combination of colour play, music, and dance was a huge hit among the children, making it an engaging and immersive cultural experience.
Reviving Traditional Games
A special highlight of the day was inspired by Siddharth Pandey, a young boy from Nepal, who requested traditional games. His enthusiasm led the organisers to improvise and introduce games on the spot, including Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh; Ram, Ravan, Raja; Memory Game with Names; and Group Building Tagging Games.
Parents watching the children play remarked how these were games from their own childhood, now rarely played by the younger generation. This spontaneous revival of traditional games was so well received that the Hindu Heritage Centre announced plans to start Traditional Games Sessions and Hindu Heritage Camps for Children soon.
Voices from the Community
Children, parents, and youth shared their excitement about the event:
- “It was a beautiful experience to be part of the celebrations for the first time. Everyone was very welcoming.” – Alita Fern
- “Well organised, plenty of colour accessible for children and adults of all ages. The addition of the music and decorations made the atmosphere extra special. Lovely to be part of such a happy, bright, event!” – Mairead Davis
- “The traditional games we played brought back childhood memories.” – Preyna Priya & Khushboo Shah
- “It was amazing to see more people attend compared to last year, especially from different backgrounds. The games were fun and kept traditions alive.” – Deepika Magesan
- “It was our first Holi in New Zealand, and we had a great time!” – Anshuka Pandey
- “That was such a fun day! We should have this more often.” – 5-year-old Shiva Kaki
- “My children had so much fun. It was the first time Anya played Holi—she normally cries! Thanks for organizing this.” – Shradha Gupta (parent)
- “Our girls had a blast! They made new friends and loved celebrating Holi with so much joy and laughter. Thank you for the invite!” – Parnila Chand (parent)
- “Thank you for today. It was a great event to attend.” – Ritika Jadav (parent)
- “Rudra absolutely loved playing Holi today. It was his first time celebrating with people outside our family, and he had so much fun. He especially enjoyed the colours—but the sprinklers made it even more exciting!” – Anupama Vashishth (parent)
A Festival to Remember
The Children’s Holi Festival at Tiaki ELC was a beautiful blend of fun, culture, and learning, creating a space where children and families from all backgrounds could come together. The success of this event has inspired plans for future cultural programs that continue to celebrate unity in diversity.
