Leicester Diwali 'like stale bread', critics say

Leicester's Diwali celebrations are said to be among the biggest outside India

Leicester's Diwali celebrations are becoming as boring as "stale bread", a city arts leader has said.

Dance school owner Anand Bhatt is calling for more innovation to attract younger people and bigger crowds to the event, which is one of the largest outside India.

"We need to invest and make it exciting," he said.

Festival organiser Jashvant Chauhan said expansion was restricted because of safety concerns.

Diwali, which will be held in November, is one of the biggest festivals in the Indian calendar and is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.

Celebrations include the lighting of earthen lamps, bursting firecrackers and distribution of sweets.

'Hot and sexy'

But Mr Bhatt said the Leicester event was becoming boring.

"It is like stale bread - it has been around for a long time and it hasn't changed much. The speeches are too long and they get the wrong people to speak," he said.

"I would like to see the festival grow from 35,000 people to 100,000 people.

"I would like people to travel for miles because Leicester is so hot and sexy when it comes to Diwali."

The name Diwali is a Sanskrit word meaning row of lights and the festival marks the start of the Hindu New Year.

Mr Chauahan, from the Leicester Hindu Festivals Council, said there were "limitations".

"We have had offers from Bollywood stars but police have said that is not possible because of safety concerns," he said.

Some critics have called for the organisers to add more street acts, fire breathers and circus acts.

Leicester city councillor Piara Singh Clair said the authority wanted "to find ways to involve local organisations", including local artists and performers.

"We want to enhance the programme and we want to make it spectacular", he said.

The council will meet with Diwali organisers and listen to their feedback, and said: "We won't work in isolation."