More than 35,000 people packed the city's Golden Mile last night for the start of Diwali. Peter Warzynski reports.
The biggest Diwali celebration outside India drew tens of thousands of people yesterday as the festival of lights got under way. More than 35,000 people packed the Golden Mile, in Belgrave, to catch a glimpse of the traditional light switch-on. Confetti rained down as the 6,500 bulbs, spanning more than 1km, flickered into life. The excited crowd, not phased by the drizzly conditions, cheered and applauded as the religious festival officially got under way. The vibrant display of light will illuminate the city for two weeks during the festival before they are replaced by Christmas lights. President of the Hindu Festival Council Maganbhai Patel said: "We have been organising this event for 21 years and before that Leicester City Council ran it for eight or nine years, and I've seen it grow and grow. "We try to involve everyone, from every religion and background, which is why it is so popular. I'm very proud of what we have achieved." Leicester East MP Keith Vaz said: "Diwali in Leicester is like no other celebration anywhere in the world. "It's about bringing together communities and because of it Belgrave Road is one of the most famous roads in the world." Dipali Ondhia, 20, from Beaumont Leys, said: "I've been coming here for years and years, the people and the atmosphere keep bringing me back." Saleem Khan, 33, from Pakistan, was in Leicester on a business trip. He said: "I think it's excellent. There are a lot of people here and when I realised I was in the city at the same time I had to come and have a look." The visiting masses also watched a host of entertainment from classical Indian dance groups and Bollywood performers. Chetna Raniga-Jogia, 28, originally from Texas, moved to the city to set up the Darpan dance school, in Belgrave. She and a group of seven dancers performed in front of the giant audience with a mix of classical Indian and western dance. Chetna said: "I came last year for the first time but didn't perform. I said to myself we have to get on stage and here we are. "It's a bit nerve-wracking seeing all those faces, but it's brilliant to be here." Kuntal Indulkar, founder of the Kuntal Dance Academy, said: "I've just had four girls and a boy up on the main stage performing and it was fantastic to see them doing so well in front of all those people. "Every year the celebrations just get bigger, brighter and louder – I love it." After the switch-on, the crowds moved to nearby Cossington Street Recreation Ground for a giant firework and laser show. City Major Sir Peter Soulsby also addressed the crowd before watching the multi-coloured fireworks explode over the Golden Mile. He said: "It's a brilliant occasion, the Belgrave light switch-on is Leicester at its very best. "It's all the communities of the city, and indeed the world, sharing such a magical event and I just love it when I see so many people coming together to celebrate it." Councillor Piara Singh Clair, Assistant City Mayor and chair of the Diwali working party, said: "Leicester's Diwali Lights switch-on is a huge celebration and something we are incredibly proud of."
The biggest Diwali celebration outside India drew tens of thousands of people yesterday as the festival of lights got under way. More than 35,000 people packed the Golden Mile, in Belgrave, to catch a glimpse of the traditional light switch-on. Confetti rained down as the 6,500 bulbs, spanning more than 1km, flickered into life. The excited crowd, not phased by the drizzly conditions, cheered and applauded as the religious festival officially got under way. The vibrant display of light will illuminate the city for two weeks during the festival before they are replaced by Christmas lights. President of the Hindu Festival Council Maganbhai Patel said: "We have been organising this event for 21 years and before that Leicester City Council ran it for eight or nine years, and I've seen it grow and grow. "We try to involve everyone, from every religion and background, which is why it is so popular. I'm very proud of what we have achieved." Leicester East MP Keith Vaz said: "Diwali in Leicester is like no other celebration anywhere in the world. "It's about bringing together communities and because of it Belgrave Road is one of the most famous roads in the world." Dipali Ondhia, 20, from Beaumont Leys, said: "I've been coming here for years and years, the people and the atmosphere keep bringing me back." Saleem Khan, 33, from Pakistan, was in Leicester on a business trip. He said: "I think it's excellent. There are a lot of people here and when I realised I was in the city at the same time I had to come and have a look." The visiting masses also watched a host of entertainment from classical Indian dance groups and Bollywood performers. Chetna Raniga-Jogia, 28, originally from Texas, moved to the city to set up the Darpan dance school, in Belgrave. She and a group of seven dancers performed in front of the giant audience with a mix of classical Indian and western dance. Chetna said: "I came last year for the first time but didn't perform. I said to myself we have to get on stage and here we are. "It's a bit nerve-wracking seeing all those faces, but it's brilliant to be here." Kuntal Indulkar, founder of the Kuntal Dance Academy, said: "I've just had four girls and a boy up on the main stage performing and it was fantastic to see them doing so well in front of all those people. "Every year the celebrations just get bigger, brighter and louder – I love it." After the switch-on, the crowds moved to nearby Cossington Street Recreation Ground for a giant firework and laser show. City Major Sir Peter Soulsby also addressed the crowd before watching the multi-coloured fireworks explode over the Golden Mile. He said: "It's a brilliant occasion, the Belgrave light switch-on is Leicester at its very best. "It's all the communities of the city, and indeed the world, sharing such a magical event and I just love it when I see so many people coming together to celebrate it." Councillor Piara Singh Clair, Assistant City Mayor and chair of the Diwali working party, said: "Leicester's Diwali Lights switch-on is a huge celebration and something we are incredibly proud of."
