Hello! Sorry I haven’t posted in so long, I’ve had the WORST sore throat. It felt like 100 tiny people quarrying in my neck with pickaxes and dynamite. I think my mum thinks its a severe case of man flu but seriously- I’ve been feeling so rough!
Anyway, I thought I’d do a blog on Diwali in Leicester. Lauren has already posted about the Lights Switch-on but I thought it worth doing another about actual Diwali day, as it’s today, and because I had such a great time last year when I went to the festival .
I said in my last blog I’d post my bonfire night photos (we did one at home in Worcester and then on the 5th we did one in our tiny garden on Queens Road!) so here are a couple:
Our Farm Bonfire- That tree was stuck in the top.
Our Guy Fawkes got Fired…
The fireworks we had on the farm and our garden were nothing compared to what will be at Abby Park tonight for Diwali.
From GCSE Religious Studies I can remember the very basics of Diwali. I apologise to the many people who will know much more than me!
Diwali is a Hindu festival but is also followed by many Sikhs and Buddhists. It is the ‘festival of lights’ and for Hindus is a celebration of Lord Rama and his wife Sita’s returning to rule after 14 years of exile. Google the story of Rama and Sita if you fancy, its a great story of good over evil. Diwali is also the Hindu New Year and so is a really major holiday in India.
There are many places outside India that have Diwali festivals and Leicester is said to be home to the biggest of such events.
They call it the Festival of Lights and the lights that illuminate Belgrave road are SPECTACULAR. They’re like Christmas street lights on steroids. And then tonight at 8pm there will be some amazing fireworks, last year they were the best I’d seen apart from possibly the ones in London on New Years Eve. They also have a massive burning ‘Happy Diwali’ symbol thingy. Its very cool. I’d really recommend going. It’s one of those things that makes Leicester truly unique. Have a look at a proper itinerary here if you’re interested. It also looks like there’s a big Ferris Wheel this year which I would love to try out.
We are also planning on going for a curry as Belgrave road is also the home of the legendry golden mile, where there are loads of great Asian cuisine restaurants to try.
I hope you have time to go and have a nose, its great fun, and there’s an amazing atmosphere which you’d usually only experience by going abroad. Well worth a look.
Will try and post again very soon.
Happy Diwali!
Leicester’s Golden Mile- Image from geograph.org.uk/photo/4229862
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