THE Diwali lights and decorations are up on Leicester’s Belgrave Road, the Wheel of Light is turning, and the scene is set for the city’s annual Diwali Day event, which takes place tomorrow (31 October).
The city council’s festivals and events team is busy putting the finishing touches to the organisation of the event – one of the biggest on Leicester’s festival calendar.
They are working closely with the police and emergency services, and the council’s highways, public safety and licensing teams, to ensure the tens of thousands of visitors expected have a great Diwali experience.
Visitors from all over the city and beyond are expected to head to Leicester to join in the celebrations.
The city council’s head of festivals & events, Graham Callister said: “The council works with a number of organisations to put on the biggest Diwali Day celebrations in the UK, and we are very grateful for their support.
“We are also grateful for the work of the Leicester Hindu Festival Council, which arranges the stage entertainment each year.
“Now Diwali Day is almost here, and we look forward to welcoming residents and visitors to the Golden Mile on Thursday.”
The festivities will begin at 3pm with the opening of the Diwali Village on Cossington Street Recreation Ground. A children’s funfair and arts and crafts will be among the activities on offer, as well as Indian food and drinks.
Sponsored by Lidl GB, the Diwali Village will also feature a Fire Garden, offering a peaceful spot amid the hustle and bustle on the park.
Leicester’s annual Rangoli exhibition will open at 4pm on Diwali Day. Brought to the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre by the city council and Tilda, it will feature modern, and traditional Rangoli patterns, celebrating the ancient form of folk-art using bright powders, often seen on doorsteps at Diwali.
Entertainment including Indian dancing will begin at 5pm on the park’s main stage, with performances organised by the Hindu Festival Council. At the same time, the Red Bull DJ truck will be providing music and energising the Belgrave Road. A family-friendly programme of street art and processions will also take place on the road throughout the evening.
This year a giant LED screen showing a live stream of the stage show on the park, will be located at the end of Belgrave Road near to the big wheel.
The finale to the celebrations will be a stunning firework display, starting at around 7.30pm.
This year’s festivities are being sponsored by Malabar Gold & Diamonds, which recently opened its second UK showroom on Leicester’s Golden Mile.
A guide to all of the activities on offer, and information about ways to travel to the event is available from the Visit Leicester website.
Diwali is an ancient festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains all over the world. Often described as the festival of lights, it celebrates light over darkness and good over evil. It’s a time for exchanging presents and wishing goodwill to all.