Diwali volunteers pack 1,000 food hampers for needy

About 130 volunteers gathered to pack hampers at an Indian community centre in Tameside

About 1,000 food hampers will be distributed among vulnerable families and victims of domestic violence in north-west England as part of events marking Diwali.

Podcaster Deepa Parekh, who helped spearhead the effort, said the items would go to six charities across Greater Manchester and Warrington so recipients could “enjoy in the spirit of Diwali, which is all about spreading love, light and happiness”.

She was among 130 volunteers who gathered to pack the hampers at Shree Bharatiya Mandal centre in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, ahead of this week's festivities.

The initiative is arranged by the Diwali Basket Brigade, which was founded in Birmingham in 2018 to help people in disadvantaged circumstances and has since branched out to Manchester, Leicester and London.

Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word dipavali, which means “row of lights”

The five-day festival symbolises enlightenment’s victory over evil and ignorance, and is celebrated around the time of the new moon in late October and November.

Meaning “row of lights” in Sanskrit, Diwali is significant to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.

Ms Parekh said: “It's a huge event - two billion people around the world celebrate this.

“It's about eating great food, being with your family and exchanging gifts. What's not to love about that?”