Leicester gets ready to celebrate Diwali

A series of events celebrating the traditions and culture of Diwali will take place across Leicester next week.

The city's annual Diwali festivities - among the largest outside India - will see the Golden Mile along Belgrave Road illuminated, the return of the Wheel of Light and venues hosting exhibitions, workshops and family activities.

The focus of celebrations on Diwali Day - Sunday 8 November - will be at Cossington Recreation Ground, with live performances including music from a world-class philharmonic orchestra plus a suspended acrobat and laser show.

However, once again there will be no firework display at the end.

Diwali, the festival of light, is celebrated by Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities and is associated with the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and hope over despair.

Community celebrations, dance and music performances are due to take place at venues across Leicester including Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester Cathedral, Haymarket Theatre, Curve, Outdoor Pursuits Centre and the Peepul Centre.

Traditional rangoli art with colourful sand will be showcased at Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre over Diwali weekend.

Diwali Village featuring South Asian food and drink, and fairground rides for children returns to Cossington ground.

Live performances will take to the stage including the Aakash Odedra Company and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

An aerial performance from Heliosphere and laser show will bring the evening to an end but, like last year, there will be no fireworks due to concerns about safety.

Belgrave Road and the junctions with its side roads will be closed to traffic from 17:00 until about 21:30 GMT on 8 November.

Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for culture, said she hoped this year's Diwali celebrations would be "another memorable occasion" for the city.

"Diwali is one of the highlights of Leicester's cultural calendar and I'm delighted that we can offer this fantastic programme of events," she said.

"Leicester's Diwali Day celebrations reflect the creativity and community spirit that makes our city so special."

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