‘Diwali village’ in Britain’s Leicester to mark festival of lights

LONDON: From the 1960s when Indian immigrants celebrated Diwali with some trepidation, the festival of lights has come a long way in the city of Leicester in the

LONDON: From the 1960s when Indian immigrants celebrated Diwali with some trepidation, the festival of lights has come a long way in the city of Leicester in the east Midlands – this year a Diwali Village is being set up as part of the busiest ever calendar of events so far.

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Leicester is reputed to host the largest Diwali celebrations outside India, attracting over 40,000 people for the lights switch-on ceremony that sparks off the celebrations.

The events of dance, music, theatre and exhibitions over two weeks are attended by nearly 100,000 people.

A unique event this year is the Story of Diwali in Leicester exhibition, which details the festival’s origins in the town in the 1960s and explores why Leicester has this festival and the people, organisations and events that made it happen.

Local people have shared their memories and photographs to create a unique record of how Leicester’s Diwali has been celebrated through the decades.

Leicester, a poster city of Britain’s multiculturalism, is officially twinned with the Gujarati city of Rajkot.

What’s new for 2016 is the addition of the Diwali Village on Cossington Street Recreation Ground, which will feature children’s fun-fair rides, entertainment (including Bollywood music) and a wide range of stalls, including food, organisers said.

Belgrave Road – called “Little India” – is lined with specially installed lights and is the centre of Diwali celebrations.