Diwali in Belgrave Road, Leicester: Thousands celebrate
- Published
More than 35,000 people gathered in Leicester for Diwali on Sunday
Celebrations were held in the streets around Belgrave Road, known as the Golden Mile
Leicester holds one of the largest Diwali celebrations outside of India
Diwali - known as the festival of lights - marks the start of the Hindu New Year. It is celebrated by Hindus around the world in October and November
Diwali means "rows of lighted lamps". Small clay lamps are lit to signify the victory of good over evil
Manjula Sood, chairman of the Leicester Council of Faiths, said Diwali was not just for Hindus, Sikhs or Jains, it was for everyone
The annual Leicester event culminated in a large fireworks display in Cossington Street Recreation Ground
Sanjeev Patel from the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple, in Gipsy Lane, said people stayed up after the celebrations to prepare food for New Year's Day, on Monday
New Year's Day is a celebration of thanksgiving to God for Hindus and Jains. People leave food they have prepared at shrines inside temples
- Published21 October 2013