Meet the team

We Bring Light is brought to life by Inspirate, an arts organisation dedicated to creating innovative and inclusive cultural experiences. At the heart of this project is a team of passionate creatives, including researchers, historians, writers, illustrators, filmmakers, and musicians. Together, we have worked to capture the essence of Diwali in Leicester, ensuring that its history and stories are celebrated and shared for generations to come.

Meet the Project Team

  • Jiten has been instrumental in bringing to life an array of nationally leading arts festivals - from 'An Indian Summer' to 'Bring The Paint' - as well as collaborating with a breadth of prestigious organisations, such as the Royal Collection Trust and the British Science Association. As a creative entrepreneur, he has become adept at building bridges between international partners and the arts - working with companies including Sony Entertainment Television and State Bank of India.


    He is a Trustee of New Art Exchange and is passionate about harnessing the arts to inspire positive social, cultural and economic change.


  • Jasmine works on making Inspirate’s festivals, events and engagement projects happen. She cares about inclusive and ethical practice and is a core member of the small but mighty producing team. Alongside her work with Inspirate, Jasmine is a freelance producer, dance artist and researcher, a Trustee for Akademi and a volunteer with kindredpacket.

  • Parmjit is an experienced Creative Producer, Director and Arts Practitioner who has worked extensively within a range of arts, community and education settings, both nationally and internationally.

    Parmjit is highly skilled at visioning and bringing to reality a wide spectrum of unique and interdisciplinary projects, curating and shaping artistic processes that involve enquiry and experimentation. She creates supportive and dynamic spaces where artists and communities can explore, imagine, question and collaborate. She is committed to artist development, working with artists at all stages of their career to develop and deepen their practice.

    Parmjit is a Trustee for Hubbub Theatre, and is a member of several advisory groups that address equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice within the arts. 

  • Sanjay is an actor and dancer from Leicester, and is Inspirate’s Communications Manager. He brings his experience as a Marketing professional from the last 7 years to the team, his focus has been on promoting upcoming projects and events produced by Inspirate, such as An Indian Summer. Alongside his work, Sanjay continues to pursue his acting and dance as a freelancer.


  • Jaskirat acts as the main point of contact for volunteers and is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment that inspires and empowers people to come together and get involved. Having started her own journey as a volunteer, she is passionate about community engagement and making a positive difference.

Meet the Artists and Researchers

  • Malini is an interdisciplinary artist and media researcher with a background in investigative journalism & filmmaking. 


  • Shamila is a visual artist working in community settings and on collaborative participatory projects. She uses a variety of mediums in my work including paint, textiles, willow, ceramics and more. Her workshops focus on empowering participants to use art to explore issues such as identity, the importance of diversity and protecting our environment. She enjoys using creativity as a tool to amplify marginalised voices.

  • Kieran Vyas is a director and filmmaker with a vast portfolio spanning theatre, TV and film. His credits include work with the BBC, the National Theatre, Curve Theatre, Amazon Prime Video, Total Insight, and many more. He is also the owner of UYA Talent Agency and Urban Young Actors in Leicester, whose alumni include a long list of high-profile and celebrity talent.

  • Rinkoo is a multidisciplinary artist, actor, filmmaker, comedian, and theatre maker. He has been running a one-man show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and on international tours in the USA, France, Japan, and Hong Kong. He is also campaigning for the rights of Deaf people and racial equality.


  • Crafting with Words is Asha’s first love. She feels lucky to be part of this project – a chance to pay tribute to the city that has been home for nearly two decades now. She enjoys writing short stories, flash and creative non-fiction. Her work has been published in print and online. When not playing with sentence structures, she loves experimenting with yarn and recipes. She lives in Leicestershire, UK.


  • Sharonjit is a graphic designer, artist and workshop facilitator working in the areas of community, arts, heritage and education.

    She designed the We Are Light website and postcard set.

  • Rendah Films is a Leicester-based video production company, producing authentic story-led films for organisations, brands, and communities. Specialising in documentary-style content, we merge poetic and digital realism to produce films that resonate - collaborating closely with those we work with to deliver emotionally engaging and cinematically compelling work that elevates voice, builds connection and creates impact.



  • Shiraaz is a public realm artist and architectural designer based in West Yorkshire. His work process is rooted in a simple admiration for nature; from the cells that form our physical bodies to the sacred geometry guiding our solar system and universe. Through his artwork and architectural practice he aims to respect, enhance and pay gratitude to our environment. He aims to combine technologies in his work and create living breathing public spaces that are inclusive and accessible to all and truly representative of the communities in which they sit.



  • Aaron Hira is the founder of Clarence Street Studios, specialising in sound and music production. Aaron is also a highly experienced music and sound practitioner, facilitating a range of projects with young people.



  • Meera Patel is a dance artist, a teacher/facilitator, and a specialist in audio description and creative integrated access.


Our Supporters and Partners

Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre

Belgrave Library

The Emerald Centre

Leicester City Council

Leicester Hindu Festival Council

Navrang Arts

Mellor Primary School

Aakash Odedra Company

East Midlands Oral History Archives

Leicestershire Record Office

Leicester Stories

Our funders 

Arts Council England

National Heritage Lottery Fund