Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Thousands on Leicester streets as Diwali returns to city

Thousands on Leicester streets as Diwali returns to city

THOUSANDS returned to Leicester streets to attend diwali lights switch-on after the festivities were cancelled last year due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The event to mark the start of the festival of light usually attracts about 45,000 people. But this time there were reduced number of people who gathered on the city's Belgrave Road to see lights and colour.


According to Leicester City Council, adequate measures were taken and people were asked beforehand to take the Covid test. Diwali is a festival which is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world.

The lights along Leicester's Golden Mile are usually turned on two weeks before the Diwali day, as the festivities and celebrations are believed to be the biggest outside India.

The city council said measures were in place to discourage people gathering at one place at the same time.

A stage which usually would show music and dance performances had been replaced with three big screens, which displayed a pre-recorded cultural programme and countdown.

A "Fire Garden" was set up in Cossington Park, off Belgrave Road, to replace the usual fireworks show.

Event manager Theo Crew, said: "In the past we have had 45,000 people on the site at any one time, which is a high density crowd, so this year we have created more spaces and more screens for people to spread out... we wanted to allow everyone to come along and celebrate safely."

The city council said the same measures would be in place for the Diwali festivities on 4 November.

London's Trafalgar Square event, which usually attracts 35,000 people, was held on Saturday (23) with reduced crowd and a live online stream.

More For You

Police Recover £1M Stolen Jewellery in Hounslow, Owners Sought

The jewellery was largely taken from London’s South Asian community in Hounslow between 2023 and 2024. (Photo: Met Police)

Stolen jewellery worth £1m recovered in Hounslow, police seek owners

POLICE are seeking to reunite stolen jewellery worth over £1 million with its rightful owners after recovering the items during a proactive operation across London and the home counties.

The recovered collection includes identifiable pieces such as a World War One officer’s Rolex watch, a gold locket containing old pictures, an engraved gold ring, and an engraved gold pocket watch from Harlow Bros Ltd.

Keep ReadingShow less
british-muslims

The initiative aims to track incidents, raise awareness of hate crime, and provide better victim support.

iStock)

Government announces fund to combat anti-Muslim hate

THE UK government has announced a new fund to monitor anti-Muslim hate and support victims, with applications opening on 7 April.

The initiative aims to track incidents, raise awareness of hate crime, and provide better victim support.

Keep ReadingShow less
Probe launched over racist broadcast at Kent asylum centre

FILE PHOTO: Entrance of Manston short-term holding centre for migrants, near Ramsgate in southeast England. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Probe launched over racist broadcast at Kent asylum centre

AUTHORITIES have launched an investigation following reports that a racist message was broadcast over portable radios at an asylum processing centre in Kent.

The incident occurred at the Manston site, where small boat arrivals are processed by the Home Office and its contractor, Mitie, reported The Guardian.

Keep ReadingShow less
Protest against dog crackdown ahead of Modi's Sri Lanka visit

Sri Lankan animal rights activists take part in a demonstration in Colombo on April 3, 2025, to protest the round-up of stray dogs a day ahead of a visit by Narendra Modi. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Protest against dog crackdown ahead of Modi's Sri Lanka visit

SRI LANKAN animal rights activists marched on Thursday (3) to protest the round-up of stray dogs a day ahead of a visit by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

Authorities in Colombo and the Buddhist pilgrim city of Anuradhapura have reportedly deployed dog catchers to impound hounds ahead of Modi's visit, which begins on Friday (4).

Keep ReadingShow less
modi-trump-getty

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi hold a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Explained: Impact of US tariffs on Indian exports

The United States has announced a 27 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods entering the American market.

Industry experts have said these duties will pose challenges for Indian exports, though India's position remains more favourable than some of its competitors.

Keep ReadingShow less