As night falls across Britain, streets from Leicester’s Golden Mile to Southall Broadway will glow with candles, fairy lights, and fireworks as communities come together to mark Diwali — the Festival of Lights.
The annual celebration, one of the most important in the Hindu calendar, symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. But its message of renewal, unity, and hope resonates far beyond its religious roots.
In cities and towns across the UK, temples and community centres are hosting open events, while local councils have joined in with festivals, music, and street food markets. Leicester — home to one of the largest Diwali celebrations outside India — switched on its famous lights earlier this month, drawing tens of thousands of visitors for the city’s 40th year of festivities.
Speaking at the event, local community leader Priya Shah said: “Diwali has always been about more than religion — it’s about light, community, and hope. In times like these, those values feel especially important.”
In London, the Diwali on the Square celebration in Trafalgar Square has brought together Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists in a day of performances, food, and prayer. Across the country, households are preparing traditional sweets, lighting small clay lamps called diyas, and decorating their homes with flowers and colourful rangoli patterns to welcome the goddess Lakshmi, who represents prosperity and renewal.
For Hindus, Diwali recalls the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after exile and his victory over the demon king Ravana. For Sikhs, it marks Bandi Chhor Divas, celebrating Guru Hargobind Ji’s release from imprisonment alongside fifty-two princes. Jains remember the enlightenment of Lord Mahavira, and Buddhists in some regions commemorate Emperor Ashoka’s renunciation of violence.
Despite these different origins, the message is shared: light conquers darkness, and renewal follows every struggle.
Diwali has also become an important date in Britain’s cultural calendar, reflecting the country’s diversity and the contribution of South Asian communities. For many younger British Asians, it is both a celebration of faith and an affirmation of identity — a way to connect with heritage while sharing it with others.
At a time of global uncertainty, Diwali’s theme of light overcoming darkness feels particularly resonant. Many community organisations have highlighted the festival’s spirit of generosity through charity drives and food donations. In Birmingham, volunteers from local Hindu and Sikh temples are delivering meals to shelters and hospitals, continuing a growing tradition of service known as seva.
Workplaces too are marking the day, with more employers recognising Diwali in their diversity calendars and hosting staff events. “It’s wonderful to see colleagues take an interest,” said Anita Patel, an NHS nurse in Manchester. “For those of us who are working tonight, we still find a way to celebrate — even if it’s with a small candle at the nurses’ station.”
For those unfamiliar with the festival, Diwali offers an invitation to learn and connect. Whether by attending a local event, lighting a candle, or simply wishing friends and colleagues Happy Diwali, small gestures of recognition carry great meaning.
As diyas flicker in windows across the UK tonight, Diwali’s enduring message remains universal: light will always overcome darkness, and every ending can be a new beginning.
Happy Diwali to all who celebrate — and to everyone finding light in their own way.