Happy Diwali!

Posted by crm28 at Oct 19, 2017 10:45 AM | Permalink

Today (Thursday 19 October) is Diwali day and there are celebrations going on around campus and the city.

Diwali, or Deepavali, is an important date for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Newar Buddhists. The festival of lights is celebrated across India and South Asia but its meaning varies depending on the group of people.

To Hindus in northern India, Diwali is the celebration of King Rama's return to the ancient city of Ayodhya after victory over Ravana, while in South India, Divali is celebrated as the day that Krishna defeated Narakasura. To Sikhs, Diwali is called Bandi Chor Divas and marks the freeing of the Guru Hargobind from imprisonment by the Mughal Empire. On Diwali Day, Jains celebrate this permanent happiness of the soul and remember Lord Mahavir’s last sermon, which was given on Diwali day, before his soul left his body and was liberated from the cycle of death and rebirth.

City celebrations

Leicester's Diwali celebrations are the biggest outside India and are centred on the Belgrave Road (also known as The Golden Mile) and Cossington Recreation Ground which is north of the City Centre. Festivities start at 3.00pm on the Belgrave Road with live stage performances on Cossington Park starting at 6.00pm. There will be a firework display over the Belgrave Road area just before 9.00pm.

You can find out more about the city's celebrations on Visit Leicester's website. →
We'd love to see how you're celebrating, if you're at tonight's celebrations be sure to tag @UniofLeicester and use #DiwaliLeicester in your posts!

Getting to Belgrave Road

University of Leicester Erasmus and Exchange Society are meeting outside the David Wilson Library at 6.00pm and then walking to Belgrave Road. Non-society students and staff are welcome to join.
Students in Oadby Student Village can meet at Manor Road Bus Stop at 6.15pm to travel to Belgrave Road together.

Activities on campus

Thursday 19 October:

Rangoli (Indian floor art) is taking place on The Square in the Percy Gee Building, between 1.00pm and 4.00pm. The Students' Union will also be giving out free Indian sweets between 1.00pm and 2.00pm.

Saturday 21 October:

The Attenborough Arts Centre are hosting Light, Sound and Celebration, 6.30pm-8.30pm, tickets cost £10.