'We want Diwali events back bigger and brighter'

Mr Modha hopes Diwali celebrations in Belgrave will remain a "cornerstone" of the community

After decades of two annual events in Leicester to mark the Hindu festival of Diwali, this year will be celebrated with one.

Leicester City Council previously announced that hosting both a lights switch-on event and a celebration to mark the day of Diwali was no longer financially sustainable.

Now, a new group is being formed with the aim of making the festivities "bigger and brighter" and secure the future of Diwali in the city.

"It's the biggest [Diwali] event outside India and we're losing it," said Karan Modha, a business owner and member of the Belgrave Business Association (BBA) in Leicester.

The BBA and the Leicester Hindu Festivals Council held a meeting in October to discuss Diwali, which was attended by business owners, community leaders and the city mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby.

Mr Modha said: "The council aren't going to be able to do it so we need to take it into our own hands."

Diwali celebrations in Leicester had been celebrated with two da

He said a panel was in the process of being formed, made up of "not just Belgrave business owners", but people from the local community and other professions in Leicester who could help "open some doors" to funding for future events.

The council said previously it had hoped a "community-based fundraising committee could be established" after proposing the one-day celebration in summer 2023.

But that was unsuccessful in time for Diwali 2024.

The council's decision not to hold a switch-on event this year was met with disappointment by some, but Mr Modha said the BBA was optimistic about future celebrations.

"Everyone agreed that we need to get the ball rolling now for next year," he added.

"We want to make it back to two events, I'm sure we can find the money."

A spokesperson for the city council said: "If the BBA and community can raise the funding needed for another event then we’d be happy for another event to go ahead in future years."