Our annual Diwali celebrations will be returning this year, with a new approach reducing the need for people to congregate in one place at the same time.

The stage near the Belgrave roundabout will be replaced with two giant screens located on Belgrave Road showing a pre-recorded cultural programme. A third giant screen will be located on Cossington Street Recreation Ground.

The annual firework displays will be replaced this year with a Fire Garden on Cossington Street recreation ground, and a Global Rainbow that will beam light across the city. Cossington Street recreation ground will also host a Diwali Village featuring food stalls and fun fair rides.

Switch-on Sunday 24 October

Belgrave Road will close at 5pm (with the lights being turned on beforehand). The cultural programme will be shown on the giant screens every hour from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. It will include a religious ceremony performed by the Hindu Festival Council as well as entertainment from Nupur Arts and local community dance groups.

Diwali day Thursday 4 November

This will also start with the road closure at 5pm, and the showing of the cultural programme from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. Further details about both events will be posted shortly.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, last year’s events were marked virtually and helped bring people together for an experience they could share with loved ones and friends across the world.

Hosted by BBC Radio Leicester’s Kamlesh Purohit the celebration was specially filmed for the event, and you can relive it below.