MALA extends its warmest wishes to those celebrating Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas today.
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, which is celebrated every autumn. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance". During the celebration, temples, homes, shops and office buildings are brightly illuminated. The preparations, and rituals, for the festival typically last five days.
Diwali celebrations in Leicester are famously some of the best in the UK and some of the biggest outside of India. The festivities are loudest along Belgrave Road, in the heart of the city's Asian community, where the two main events take place each year.
The fantastic Diwali lights switch-on brings the Golden Mile alive with light and colour – be prepared to gaze in wonder at an explosion of fireworks and over 6,000 lights, twinkling against the night sky. Two weeks of cultural celebrations are rounded off on Diwali day with a bang! A spectacular fireworks show is the culmination of a night of Bollywood dances and music performances.
Bandi Chhor Divas is a Sikh festival celebrated on the same day as Diwali, in a similar manner. But it commemorates an important event in Sikh history and is regarded as an important festival in Sikhism. Learn more about Bandi Chhor Divas here.
MALA wishes all those celebrating, a joyous day!
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