Diwali festival aims to bring communities together

Traditional dance performances and displays are expected to entertain attendees at the Diwali festival

The organisers of an event to celebrate Diwali hopes the festival of light will bring together a city's diverse community.

The Peterborough Diwali Festival will be marked at Cathedral Square on Saturday, and about 500 people are expected to attend.

Diwali, which begins on 31 October this year, is a Hindu festival which celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the return of Lord Rama and his wife Sita from exile after 14 years.

One of the event's organiser, Nagasayan Puppala, said the number of participants and attendees has been “increasing every year” and “it is heartwarming" to see such an interest in the festivities.

Diwali is celebrated every year by people of Hindu, Sikh and Jain faiths.

Mr Puppala said the event would begin with the lighting of a lamp and a puja (prayer) to Lord Ganapathi, the elephant-headed Hindu god of prosperity and wisdom.

He added that about 50 performances would take place during the course of the festival, which included songs and traditional Indian dance acts, such as Garba, Kuchipudi, Bollywood dances and Nepali folk dances.

The attendees would also have an opportunity to try different Indian cuisines at the festival's food stalls.

The festival has been running for the past 11 years. Last year multiple celebrations were held to mark the 10-year anniversary of the event.

The Diwali celebration in Peterborough has seen a rise attendees over the years, organisers have said

Mr Puppala, who works in IT and moved to Peterborough in 2006, said the festival was a “huge opportunity” for the city’s Indian diaspora, who are often living away from their families, to come together and showcase India’s culture.

He said: “When I came, the Indian community was very small in Peterborough. It has grown significantly over the years.

“We live far away from our families and our parents. Many people live on their own… and this is a huge opportunity for us.

“We enjoy the event, showcase our heritage and it is great to be part of this multi-cultural community.

“We invite people from all diverse communities to come and it’s heartwarming to see so many people attending the event.

"It’s a fabulous feeling to see that - to bring everyone together.”