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Ideas / Album / Diwali
Diwali celebrations in London: information and photos

Diwali is celebrated each year by the Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities. It is known as the Festival of Lights, and represents the victory of light (Good) over darkness (Evil). It is in October or November: it is timed to coincide with the new moon (the darkest night of the month), so the date varies from one year to the next. This year's Diwali is on Tuesday 28 October 2008 (the following day is the start of the Hindu New Year).

The photos shown below were taken at the "Diwali on the Square" in Trafalgar Square (a free event organised by the Mayor of London and the Diwali in London Group), and at the Diwali celebration at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, north London.

Send a free Diwali e-card

Diwali (Festivals) (children's book)
Author: Karena Marchant
Publisher: Hodder Wayland
Date: July 1999
Celebrate Diwali
Author: Deborah Heiligman
Publisher: National Geographic Books
Date: January 2007


(1) TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Diwali on the Square is a free annual celebration of Diwali in London's Trafalgar Square.
It is usually timed to be on a weekend before or after the date of Diwali itself.


Statues of the Hindu god Ganesh
and the goddess of wealth Lakshmiji

Floating lanterns light up the fountains


The stage is set for Diwali on the Square 2006

Some dancers perform


Tony Patti from Sunshine Radio is a compere ...

... helping to warm up the crowds in Trafalgar Square


There are a few speeches

Some short prayers are said, and religious stories performed


Then balloons are released ...

... to celebrate the start of Diwali


On stage are a variety ...

... of dancing and musical performances


The large screen announces Raghav ...

... the popular final act in 2006

Storyteller (music CD)
Artist: Raghav
Label: V2
Date: September 2004
 

(2) SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR, NEASDEN

The celebrations of Diwali at Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Neasden Temple, in north-west London) will be on Tuesday 28 October 2008
The usual timetable is:
Chopda Pujan from 6:30-7:45pm
There is a fireworks display starting at about 8:45pm (in Gibbons Recreation Ground, behind the nearby school).

Annakut Darshan is on Wednesday 29 October 2008 (Annakut is the celebration of the New Year)
Usually celebrations are from 12-9pm: Arti is every hour from 12-5pm, and every half an hour from 5-9pm.

For further details, see the website: http://www.swaminarayan-baps.org.uk

For public transport information about how to get to the temple, see: http://www.tfl.gov.uk
[ There is a special shuttle bus from stop BB outside Neasden Tube station to the temple from 15:00 to 23:30 on Friday, and from 10:00 to 22:00 on Saturday. The bus back leaves from stop J in Brentfield Road (opposite the temple) except when the road is closed for a while around the time of the fireworks. For details of how to travel to the temple using regular transport use the "journey planner" on this page: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/diwali/default.asp ]


Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

Fireworks display


(3) LEICESTER

The UK's largest Diwali celebrations take place in Leicester in the Midlands
(Leicester became the home of the UK's largest Gujarati community after Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda in 1972).
Diwali festivities are centred around Belgrave Road and include dancing, music and fireworks.
There is one ceremony for the switching on of lights in Leicester, and another event centred around Diwali itself.
The main organisers are Leicester City Council and Leicester Hindu Festival Council (LHFC).
Leicester also has the UK's largest Navratri celebrations (Navrati is the Hindu festival of nine nights)
For details, see: http://www.goleicestershire.com/entertainment/festivals.asp

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FURTHER INFORMATION

The National Council of Hindu Temples (UK) guide to Diwali: http://www.nchtuk.org/content.php?id=45
BBC guide to Diwali: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/diwali.shtml

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LINKS

Photos from the Vaisakhi in Southall (a Sikh festival): Ideas/Album/Vaisakhi
Cheap calls from the UK to India and other countries: Life/Telephone/International
Useful links for people from India: Links/India
Religions in the UK: Personal/Religion
Monthly guide to events in the UK: Ideas/Events

Home page: Home

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