Asia:NZ/Cathay Pacific Diwali Short Story Comp

Asia:NZ/Cathay Pacific Diwali Short Story Competition

Let your imagination fly and win a trip for two to India!

The Diwali Festival of Lights -- one of India’s best-loved festivals – celebrates its eighth anniversary in Auckland and Wellington this October.

To mark the occasion, the Asia New Zealand Foundation and Cathay Pacific invite you to test your writing skills and be in to win a trip for two to India.

The rules are simple – all you have to do is write a short story of up to 800 words which includes the following four words: “Diwali”, “homecoming”, “lamington”, and “Cathay Pacific”.

There will be one national winner, whose name will be announced at the Auckland Diwali Festival of Lights, to be held on October 10-11 at the Eastern Viaduct. (The Wellington Diwali Festival will be held on October 18 at the TSB Bank Arena.)

Organised by Asia:NZ in partnership with Auckland and Wellington City Councils, the Diwali Festival is a celebration of the sights, sounds, fashion and food of India.

Diwali, also known as Deepavali (literally “a row of lamps”), is perhaps the most important and ancient of the Indian festivals.

Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali has now crossed the bounds of religion and signifies many different things in different areas of India. In Gujarat, the original home of many Indian New Zealanders, the festival honours Laxmi, the goddess of wealth. In north India, it celebrates the god Rama’s homecoming to his kingdom of Ayodhya after a 14-year exile. To light his way and rejoice at his return, the people of Ayodhya lit earthen diyas and fireworks.

Generally speaking, however, Diwali signifies the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and renewal of life.

The Rules:

• Your entry must be your own work and no more than 800 words

• Your story must contain the following words: “Diwali”; “homecoming”; “lamington”; and “Cathay Pacific”.

• You must be 18 or over and resident in New Zealand.

• You must include your full name, address, and phone number with your entry.

• All entries should be submitted no later than September 15, 2009 to: Jennifer King, Culture Director, Asia New Zealand Foundation, P.O. Box 10144, Wellington. Alternatively entries may be emailed to communications@asianz.org.nz

• The winners agree to take part in publicity as a result of the competition.

• The judging panel's decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

What we are looking for:

Imaginative and stylish writing.

The prize:

An economy class return trip for two to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai or Bangalore, flying Cathay Pacific.

Terms and conditions

The competition is not open to employees of the Asia New Zealand Foundation or Cathay Pacific. The prize tickets have a lower boarding priority than normal fare paying passengers. If the flight booked becomes critically full, and/or other serious disruptions occur, there is a possibility that the prizewinner will not be acepted for the flight. In this event there will be no entitlement to denied boarding compensation. Cathay Pacific airport staff will then include the prizewinner on the booking list for the next available Cathay Pacific flight. CathayPacific tickets must not be used during closeout periods as follows: 20 November 2009 – 28 February 2010; Chinese New Year period; Rugby Sevens period; and New

Zealand school holidays.Tickets must be utilised within 12 months from the date of winning and have a 3 months travel validity. Flights are subject to availability. Prizewinners are required to pre-pay all country/airport taxes directly to Cathay Pacific at the time of ticketing. All flights are not eligible for Frequent Flyer Points and are non-transferrable.

ENDS

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