Diwali/Deepavali in United Kingdom

When did the Diwali/Deepavali in United Kingdom start?

The first recorded date of Diwali/Deepavali in United Kingdom being celebrated on October 21 was in the year 1997.

About Diwali/Deepavali in United Kingdom Holiday

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the most colourful and celebrated festivals in the United Kingdom. This time of year is especially joyous for the Hindu community as it is a time for the celebration of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. This joyous festival usually takes place in October.

Rich with traditions, Diwali in the United Kingdom usually begins with Vedic prayers for wealth and prosperity. Traditional families light lamps and earthenware diyas to drive away evil forces. Homes are filled with the scent of incense and beautiful rangoli decorations. Families share sweets and offer food to friends and relatives, and exchange gifts each other.

Devotees sing traditional songs about Rama's victory over Ravana and his coronation as king as fireworks illuminate the night sky. Diwali in the United Kingdom is celebrated with great enthusiasm, in a manner that is authentic to this celebrated festival.

Diwali/Deepavali in the United Kingdom

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is recognized annually as a holiday with deep cultural and religious significance across South Asia and beyond. In the United Kingdom, the event is marked with joyous celebrations and traditions, shared by people of all backgrounds and Sanskrit origins. Let’s delve deeper into the roots, significance, and modern-day traditions of Diwali in the United Kingdom.

History and Origin

Diwali has been celebrated for centuries as one of the most prominent festivals among Hindus and Sikhs alike. The Hindu mythology behind Diwali’s origin refers to the return of Lord Rama after 14 years of exile. After reclaiming his kingdom and returning home, the people rejoiced in celebration, decorated their houses with diyas (small lights made of clay) and lighten up the darkness of the night. This story, among other tales, showcases how Diwali has served as a symbol of light over darkness and hope over despair.

In the Sikh tradition, Diwali commemorates the freedom of their sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind, who was released from imprisonment in the Fort of Gwalior in 1619. He also freed 52 other kings who were held captive with him in the Gurudwara. Hence, the festival is associated with the concept of celebrating freedom from bondage and oppression.

Celebrations of the festival in the United Kingdom date as far back as the late 1800s, when the first wave of Indian immigrants held ad hoc festivities, and also celebrated their adoption of a new charcoal-black handprint representing the “victory marks” members of their communities put on their foreheads. Today, the festival has grown to become one of the most widely observed in the UK.

Significance and Meaning

Diwali is celebrated in the Indian subcontinent, as well as in Hindu diaspora around the world, with the same symbol of hope and joy that makes it so important. The last day of the festival is denoted as “Vijayadashami,” which translates to “victorious day” and is symbolic of the victory of light over darkness.

The festival embodies the core values of celebrating liberation from bondage and oppression, the triumph of good over evil, and the significance of knowledge and wisdom. It signifies prosperity, joy, and new beginnings, and thus, makes for a great time of celebration and togetherness among communities worldwide.

Traditions and Celebrations

Celebrations of Diwali begin with festivities leading up to the five-day long extravaganza, where friends and family gather to share in joy and merriment. Traditionally, celebrations include exchanges of gifts, lighting of firecrackers, and feasting on scrumptious delicacies.

During the finale of Diwali in the United Kingdom, synagogues, temples, and community centers host vibrant and colorful festivities, inviting one and all to join. Meals shared around this time are typically vegetarian and include traditional dishes like chaat and samosa as snacks.

Diwali can also be accompanied with Kirtan (devotional singing and chanting) and Heer event (the folklore of a classic love story from the Punjab region). These activities provide a rich cultural experience, and the mesmerizing sights of fireworks and dazzling diyas are known to captivate the audience.

Geographical Spread

Diwali in the United Kingdom is celebrated predominantly in South Asian communities and regions, including London, Birmingham, Leicester, Bradford, Manchester, and Blackburn. London holds the most celebrated Diwali spectacle in the entire country, with festivities taking place in Trafalgar Square, South Bank, Khalsa Primary School in Brent, Leicester’s “Diwali In the Square,” and several other venues throughout the city.

The festivities in London may vary slightly from the rest of the country. Instead of the traditional “Crackers and Diyas” celebrations for the finale of Diwali, London’s cosmopolitan Hindus and Sikhs pay homage to Gurus by honoring them with memory and services at local temples.

Slightly southeast of London, towns and villages in Kent host weekly Diwali-related entertainment events, which draw people from throughout the region. The largest Diwali carnival in Kent takes place in Claygate, Surrey and features such attractions as traditional music, dance, visual arts, and tours of the local Gurudwara.

In Wales, Cardiff hosts a series of Diwali festivities. Thousands of people come together every year and celebrate in the well-known and celebrated grand style. The local Cardiff Hindu Temple is set to be opened to the public for the first time this year, for the occasion of Diwali.

Modern Day Observations

Feeding into the cultural excitement of the event, businesses and restaurants in the United Kingdom put up Diwali-themed decorations and serve special menus. Many popular cultural shows are organized including singing, dancing, and stand-up comedy. Additionally, a lot of people opt to travel, primarily to India, in order to spend Diwali with their families.

The majority of the contemporary-day Diwali celebrations in United Kingdom revolves around the significant combination of Hinduism, Sikhism, and love for modern India. Therefore, it is often seen that people dress up in fabulous attire, exchange gifts, and burst crackers in a unique and cultural way.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

Diwali is celebrated on a different day each year depending on the lunar cycle. For 2019, Diwali falls on October 27.

The festival is not just restricted to Hindus and Sikhs. Jains and Buddhists celebrate Diwali, too, in their respective traditions.

Diwali is celebrated as a public holiday in some parts of India, such as Maharashtra, Kerala, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka and Lakshadweep.

Diwali is the first day of the Hindu calendar year, and is considered an auspicious time to begin any endeavor.

Lamps and diyas are lit to symbolize the inner light that protects us from spiritual darkness.

The Diwali week includes other festivals such as Dhanteras, Chhoti Diwali, Bali Padyami, and Annakoot.

Diwali is celebrated with special religious ceremonies in temples all over India.

Rangoli, an intricate art form of creating patterns using colored powder, is usually made during Diwali.

Holiday Wishes

• Wishing you and your family a very happy and blessed Diwali!
• May the divine light of Diwali fill your life with bliss, gaiety, and good fortune.
• May the beauty of Diwali fill your home with joy and peace.
• May this Diwali be prosperous for you and your family.
• Wishing everyone a very joyous and sparkling Diwali.

Holiday Messages

• Wishing you and your family health, success, and prosperity on the festive occasion of Diwali.
• Hope the spirit of Diwali brings with it new opportunities and success.
• May this Diwali bring you happiness and joy as we celebrate the victory of light over darkness.
• May your life be filled with love, light and prosperity in this festive season.
• Wishing you a Diwali filled with harmony, joy, and sweet memories.

Holiday Quotes

• “Diwali is a festival of lights and Radha is the symbol of divine love.” – Anonymous
• “Let this Diwali burn all your bad times and enter you in good times.” – Anonymous
• “Diwali, the festival of lights is just around the corner wishing everyone happiness and prosperity.” – Anonymous
• “The utmost truth is that spirit of Diwali is something beyond the celebration of lights.” – Anonymous
• “Follow the path of truth, justice, humanity and keep away from evil to make the world a beautiful place to live in.” – Anonymous

Other Popular Holiday Info

Diwali is celebrated in different ways in different countries. In the UK, the popular celebrations often begin with a special meal known as Purnima. This is an important part of the celebrations and usually marks the start of the festivities. Purnima is a wonderful time to celebrate the victory of light over darkness as well as to pay respect to the hosts of the Diwali celebration.

In India, the event is more elaborate and includes different forms of worship among Hindus and Sikhs. The colorful event sometimes culminates in a grand fireworks display. People often visit temples and spread peace and prosperity in honor of deities, while exchanging sweets and gifts with family and friends.

In the UK, as with other countries, Diwali is celebrated with love and passion. Friends, family, and colleagues gather in large numbers to commemorate the event with different forms of excitement and exchange of sweets and gifts. The festival of Diwali culminates in a colorful spectacle that symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.