Why an 18th Century stately home celebrates Diwali

A stately home built in the 18th century is opening its doors again to celebrate Diwali.

Kedleston Hall near Derby may not be the most obvious choice to host the festivities - but its museum contains more than 1,000 items from India and neighbouring South Asian countries.

The neo-classical home and its links to the region are down to one of its former occupants - Lord Curzon - a former Viceroy of India during British colonial rule.

Morgan Feely, property curator at Kedleston Hall, run by the National Trust, said the Diwali events provide an opportunity to explore the property's own historical connections with Asia.

The annual festival of lights celebrates the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.

Diwali is celebrated primarily by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, as well as certain Buddhist communities.

Lord Curzon would go on to inherit Kedleston Hall in 1916 but his family had lived on the estate since Norman times after 1066.

The house as it mostly stands today was built in 1759.

"I think Curzon felt a pressure to live up to that history and lineage, he was a very capable, able and ambitious man," Feely said.

"From an early age, he set himself the role of becoming Viceroy of India - a role that's a stand-in for the King."

He did just that in 1899 and served until 1905. It was during this time he amassed hundreds of objects from the region, which he brought back to Derbyshire.

When Curzon inherited Kedleston Hall, he remodelled parts of the ground floor to house more than 1,000 objects collected during his travels across Asia.

Known first as the Indian Museum and later the Eastern Museum, the collection spans countries including India, Japan, Korea, Nepal and Turkey.

But the largest group comes from India, reflecting Curzon's time as Viceroy, and ranges from tourist souvenirs and personal belongings to commissioned works and diplomatic gifts.

Lord Curzon was behind the Delhi Durbar of 1903 - an extravagant imperial assembly held in the city marking the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra as Emperor and Empress of India.

Historians have said it was deliberately designed by him to be the grandest pageant in the history of the British Empire.

Curzon wanted an unforgettable display of absolute British authority, consciously blending traditional Indian royal customs with British military precision.

But it came with controversy. The durbar cost £200,000 - about £23m in today's money - as India was recovering from the devastating famines of 1896–1897 and 1899–1900.

"Throughout his career he was criticised for a kind of arrogance and aloofness, it probably did not help when he rode into the durbar on an elephant," Feely said in 2025.

"Maharajas and princes in India would have to be on the right side of him, but he did some good work including overseeing the restoration of the Taj Mahal because he was passionately interested in historic buildings.

"His administration ran soup kitchens during the famine... but the question remained if he did enough during that time to alleviate the suffering."

Feely said Kedleston Hall does not want to hide from the answers of how Lord Curzon acquired more than 1,000 items from India during British colonial rule.

Some were taken, some were gifted, others were bought, Feely said.

"When we talk about these things, we want to have open conversations about how they came to be here," he added.

"We also want to understand what connection people feel towards these objects and stories it may bring out for them."

The display has hundreds of items, including a hand-made teak chair with angels, lions and crocodiles carved into the top. It was designed to be mounted on the back of a boat and was made in Myanmar.

"We think Curzon bought this in 1901 because there is half a 'sold' sticker on the back," Feely said.

"But we don't have archival records for that and we don't have secure documentation for how many objects came to him.

"There are some items here at one point were taken, not necessarily taken by Curzon himself but often happens with colonial violence, there is looting and the victor takes the spoils of war.

"It's important that we acknowledge that and even the historical labels reference that."

The Diwali event at the stately home aims to offer an opportunity to explore the property's own historical connections with Asia.

The celebrations have been developed through collaboration between Kedleston Hall's team and local volunteer Bina Vasdev, who has played an important role in bringing the event to life.

"We celebrate Diwali in our homes, we celebrate Diwali in our places of worship. I am absolutely honoured that I was approached and I am a part of it," she said.

Feely added: "Over the last few years we have celebrated Diwali here at Kedleston because of the hall's connection to South Asia and it's been wonderful to take out some of these historic lamps, put light in them, put them on display and it makes people feel connected to them."

Kedleston Hall is marking the final weekend of its Diwali programme with themed decorations, including textiles, rangolis and diya lamps.

On Saturday 14 November, the event will include light projections on the hall's interiors and sculptures, as well as a programme of South Asian music and dance performances.

Across the weekend, visitors can also take part in storytelling and craft activities.

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