UK Diwali celebrations (Trafalgar Square London, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Neasden, Leicester)

Diwali on the Square is a free annual celebration of Diwali in London's Trafalgar Square.
It is usually timed to be on a weekend shortly before or after the date of Diwali itself.

In 2009 this event was on Sunday 4 October 2009 (see: http://www.diwaliinlondon.com)
The 2009 timetable was as follows:

2-3.15pm Traditional circular Garba dancing in the centre of Trafalgar Square, with live entertainment from the band Shama and Friends.

3.45-4.15pm Opening ceremony with special Diwali messages.

4.15-5.45pm Variety of acts on stage: from Devdas to Latin and contemporary Bollywood hits,Dhol beats and classical, urban and street dance. Live stage performances from:
Beeja Dance Company, Flex FX Productions, Rhythm ‘n’ Bass Dhol Players, Screendolz, Shamaa Dance Company, Shri Academy of Dance, Sujata Banerjee Kathak Group, Tony Wong and Tridhara.
Introduced by presenters from the BBC -Asian Network, the offical radio partner of Diwali on the Square.

5.45-6.30pm Special guest artists from Star, official Media Partner of Diwali on the Square.

6.30-7pm Kirtan and Bhajan Aarti provded by the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. (ISKCON)

The photos below were taken at the event in 2006.

(2) BAPS SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR, NEASDEN

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden (Neasden Temple, in north-west London) hosts the largest Diwali and Hindu New Year celebrations in the country.
The address is: 105-119 Brentfield Road, London NW10 8LD.
Nearest Tube stations are Neasden, Stonebridge Park or Harlesden
Map: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=NW10+8LD&z=15

DIWALI
Saturday 17 October 2009
Chopda Pujan: 6.00pm to 7.15pm
Spectacular Fireworks & Laser Display: 8.45pm to 9.15pm

ANNAKUT
Sunday 18 October 2009
Annakut Darshan: 12noon to 9.00pm
Rajbhog Arti: 12noon
Arti every half-hour until 9.00pm

Hot snacks are available on both days from the foodstalls.
The celebrations are open to all.
For security reasons, bags and cameras are not allowed into the Mandir Complex.

For further details visit: http://www.mandir.org
[for details of 2009 Diwali celebrations, see: http://www.mandir.org/news&events/2009/10/diwali/index.htm]

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

Fireworks display

(3) LEICESTER

The UK's largest Diwali celebrations take place in Leicester in the Midlands
(Leicester became the home of the UK's largest Gujarati community after Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda in 1972).
Diwali festivities are centred around Belgrave Road and include dancing, music and fireworks.
There is one ceremony for the switching on of lights in Leicester, and another event centred around Diwali itself.
The main organisers are Leicester City Council and Leicester Hindu Festival Council (LHFC).
Leicester also has the UK's largest Navratri celebrations (Navrati is the Hindu festival of nine nights)
For details, see: http://www.goleicestershire.com/entertainment/festivals.asp

FURTHER INFORMATION

The National Council of Hindu Temples (UK) guide to Diwali: http://www.nchtuk.org/content.php?id=45
BBC guide to Diwali: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/diwali.shtml

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Diwali celebrations in London: information and photos