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© Hayley Madden
© Hayley Madden
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It’s that time of year again, as the nights draw in earlier, the air gets colder and electrical lights of all description start to be rigged up all over the city. For the most part, the lights will be for the fast looming Christmas celebrations, however, with another important festival before Christmas, dESSYtRENDS looks at where you can celebrate Diwali this November.
The festival is often called the “Festival of Lights”, simply because a direct translation is “row of lights”. Arguably it is also known as such because of the lights and candles synonymous with the festival and in more recent years, Diwali is not such without a firework display or three. To summarise, the five-day feast of Diwali combines the festivities of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year, although no national holiday has been introduced in the UK, the cities of Leicester and Birmingham, with their large Asian communities take this event most seriously.
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London’s offering, ‘Diwali on the Square’ seem rather sombre in comparison to other events held around the UK. The one day event was held in Trafalgar Square last night and underlined the capitals Diwali celebrations. The Square was complete with light displays, floating lanterns, music and dance performers. Amongst those who performed were the Academy of Punjabi Heritage, Angel Dance School, Apsara Dancers, Explosive Dhol 'n Dance, Sapnay School of Dance and presenters from Sunrise Radio.
Leicester, with its large Gujarati and Hindu community take Diwali very seriously and yesterday the lights lining Belgrave Road, were turned on at 7.30pm and were attended by The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Leicester, Cllr Gary Hunt, Leicester Hindu Festival Council, Diwali sponsor Alliance & Leicester and other dignitaries and was followed by, you guessed it, a fireworks display on Cossington Street Recreation Ground. Entertainment on the day of Diwali will be on Cossington Street Recreation Ground, including a cultural programme on stage starting at 6.45pm and concluding with another, guaranteed “spectacular” fireworks display at 8.30pm.
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The large Punjabi community in Birmingham will also be celebrating and as always, Birmingham city council has organised an exciting programme of events to mark the arrival of Diwali. On the 11th November, at Millennium Point, live Indian music and cultural dance, food and children’s rides will be on offer. A fun fair and fireworks finale (well, come on) all help the city of Birmingham and the West Midlands mark and celebrate this auspicious occasion.
Back in London, if you missed the ‘Diwali in the Square’, then make a trip over to the stunning ‘Shri Swaminarayan Mandir’, also known as ‘Neasden Temple’ in north-west London where on Friday 9th November and Saturday 10th November there will be religious festivities and a firework display on the Friday at 8:45pm – all are welcome. For further details, see the "news and events" link on the website: http://www.swaminarayan-baps.org.uk
Whatever you get up to this Diwali, try not to get too wrapped up in the firework displays and barrels of good food and remember the true meaning. Families gather to celebrate and offer prayers together, new clothes are often bought, gifts are exchanged, business and personal accounts cleared and customarily, ways of being a better person in the new year are planned. Diwali is celebrated 20 days after Dussera, on Amavasya, the 15th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin (Aasho) - that is Friday 9th November 2007.
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