We Bring Light explores the history of the Diwali festival in Leicester and why it is so important to the South Asian communities in Leicester and the city as a whole. It is a project which shines a light on people’s memories of Diwali, so they can be seen, read, heard and watched.

To explore this history, many different experts and specialists have worked together, including researchers, historians, writers, illustrators, designers, film makers, storytellers and producers. This amazing creative team have discovered and brought Leicester’s Diwali Festival history to life through film, sound, photography, music, street art, postcards and storytelling, most of which you’ll discover within this website.

Our research led us to speaking to many older residents of Belgrave, for whom Diwali is a Hindu celebration. We would like to recognise that Diwali is also an important festival within Sikhism and Jainism, and these religions have different Diwali stories and reasons for celebrating this multi-faith festival.

We thank all the community members who spent time speaking with us and generously sharing their Diwali festival memories. We dedicate this project to them, and to all the community leaders and organisations that have worked hard to keep this festival alive and thriving, the trailblazing ‘light bringers’ without whom Diwali in Leicester would not be the very special celebration it is today.