Biggest Diwali celebrations
outside of India by NRIs!
UK Leicester city will illuminate 6,000
bulbs
Leicester, Oct.26, 2004
With the flick of a switch, 6,000 bulbs will illuminate this city
to mark the start of one of the biggest Diwali celebrations outside
of India!
More than 70,000 people are expected to attend official events in this
Asian dominated city over two days beginning Oct 31. The switch-on will
follow a ceremony with cultural entertainment, music and dancing that
starts in Belgrave Road, at 6 p.m.
Councillor Piara Singh Clair, the Lord Mayor of Leicester, is the guest
of honour and will turn on the illuminations. He said: "I am really
delighted to be chief guest at this year's Diwali celebrations.
"Diwali is an opportunity for all cultures to come together. It
is a time for family and friends to share and enjoy. I am very proud
of Leicester's Diwali celebrations."
Maganbhai Patel, president of the Leicester Hindu Festival Council,
said: "We are very proud to have been at the heart of this event
for more than a decade. Diwali celebrations here are the biggest outside
the Indian subcontinent, and attract visitors to our city from across
the world.
"I wish everyone a Happy Diwali and prosperous New Year."
Leicester City Council has urged people to note new laws, which make
it illegal for anyone under 18 to be in possession of fireworks.
There will be fixed penalty fines for anyone caught breaking this law.
People are warned by council officials not to bring fireworks to community
events.
This year's official Diwali firework celebrations are being sponsored
by Alliance & Leicester, a finance major.
The celebrations come after students, staff and parents at Abbey Primary
School and Community centre enjoyed Raas and Garba last week.
Children of all ages dressed in colourful costumes enjoyed dancing
to music provided by the Shivranjini group on the first day of Navratri.
Indo-Asian News Service