Braving the cold in short sleeves and shalwar kameez, members of Rotorua's Indian community gathered to celebrate 70 years as an independent nation.
About 200 people gathered on the steps at the Toi Ohomai institute of technology for dancing, food and a bit of hip hop yesterdayafternoon .
Undeterred by the rain, costumed dancers performed traditional Punjabi folk dances and two young men rapped for the appreciative audience, made up of Toi Ohomai students and Indian residents from the wider community.
Many had recently arrived in New Zealand as the latest international student intake at the institute.
Students perform a group dance during Indian Indepedence Day celebrations at Toi Oho Mai. Photo / Stephen Parker
International department head Graeme Rennie said the day was a chance to share and celebrate Indian students' culture.
The afternoon kicked off with a short speech by Dave Donaldson, who paid his respects to the Indian freedom fighters who secured India's independence from the British Empire in 1947.
Indian nationals at the event said the day was still meaningful to them, as it marked the moment where India became free.
For Punjab native Sanmukhjeet Kaur the day was not only a wider cultural celebration - it was also her birthday.
Sneha Maisuriya dances at the Indian Indepedence Day celebrations at Toi Oho Mai. Photo/Stephen Parker
Ms Kaur been living in Rotorua for seven years and works as a healthcare assistant.
"It's a special day for us," she said. "In India they have a big function and they hoist the flag at the Red Fort in Delhi ... in every school and college they have a parade, functions, handing out free sweets."
Independence meant freedom from colonialism and the power for the country to make its own rules.
"Now Indians are all over the world, spreading our culture and our traditions," she said.
Student Lovepreet Kaur, her sister and her baby nephew were also at the performance, dressed in saris despite the cold.
"I'm really happy," she said. "I'm not in India but it feels very good [to be here]."
Ms Kaur's family back home were celebrating as well, she said.
Aayush Mehta, who is studying hospitality and comes from Punjab, said he was proud of the struggle to gain independence.
"We feel good, because the people from England ruled us for 200 years. When they ruled there were a lot of problems," he said. "Now we have rights."
