“I married and moved here in 1975, since then what started out as a small scale affair has now grown so big and commercial.”

Daksha Dakshani, aged 70

Diwali has been celebrated in the city of Leicester for over half a century, and has gradually grown into one of the largest and most vibrant celebrations of Diwali outside of India. The festival has become an important part of Leicester’s identity and culture as a city.

As more South Asian communities have migrated and settled in Leicester, they have carried their traditions with them. Diwali has become an important way to celebrate their identity, roots and heritage, a way of staying close to their homelands. 

Diwali is a religious festival, but over the years it has also become a cultural celebration which is open to all, and includes public events, performances, exhibitions and displays.

Diwali began as a small, private celebration that took place in the homes and family circles of South Asian communities that moved to Leicester during the 1950’s and 1960’s. 

As the growing South Asian community began to create their own places of worship and businesses, Diwali also began to grow as a celebration. 

A key event was the opening of Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre in 1977, a building which used to be a Methodist Church. Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre quickly became the heart of Leiciester’s South Asian community, and provided a place for them to come together and celebrate Diwali outside of their homes.

In 1983, the first public Diwali lights were installed along Belgrave Rd, switched on by the community’s oldest resident in a ceremony that attracted local media attention. This major event set in motion the development of Diwali as a major public festival for years to come.

During the 1980’s, community organisations worked hard to grow and expand the festival, including rangoli competitions, dance performances and community meals.

In 1986, Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre organised a Diwali Mela that attracted over 20,000 people. The police had to close off the road to allow the celebrations to happen safely.

By the 1990’s, Diwali on Belgrave Road had become a major attraction, with people visiting from all over the UK. The Hindu Festival Council was established to help oversee the festival, and they worked closely with Leicester City Council to deliver a safe and successful celebration every year.

Today, Leicester’s Diwali festival brings an estimated 40,000 people together each year, and the festival events happen across two weeks, during which there are cultural, religious and artistic events across the city. The highlight is always the celebrations in Belgrave, and especially that magical moment when the Diwali lights are switched on to reveal a dazzling display of colour and light along the ‘Golden Mile’.