The enjoyment began on Sunday the 21^st October from around noon, and continued until 7pm onwards, when the much awaited light switch on finally occurred. The Mela included a mini-carnival with rides suited to both children and adults of all ages. Some of the rides that families could enjoy included a ghost-train, carousel, flying pirate ship, sky cars and a jungle-themed fun-house.

There were also various food stalls and tents to meet the needs of everyone’s taste-buds. The menu on offer included Western cuisine from the likes of Smokey Joe’s, with FrankFurter hot-dogs, steak burgers and beef burgers galore. On the Eastern side of things were vendors serving steaming hot channae, aloo chaat and samosa chaat, and even a chai-waala. There were also traditional British foods such as your common chip-shop battered chips with fried fish, and chicken burgers, for those members of the crowd who weren’t feeling so adventurous!

Some of the more exotic cuisine on offer also included Caribbean curries and spicy jerk chicken wraps, not to mention a candy stall with toffee apples and a candy floss machine for those of us who have a sweet tooth. The company ‘Loco Lobo Tex Mex’, who sell the likes of burritos and chilli and rice dishes, were also at Soho Road that day. A vendor managing the stall had travelled from Worcestershire to Birmingham especially for the event, and was also eager to comment on the festivities. He said: “We have a lot of friends in the catering industry who are Asian as well who have eaten our food and enjoy it. This is my first time at Diwali and we’re hoping to attract a lot of Asian customers.”

As the day’s musical performances on the main stage officially came to a start at around 2pm, the first acts to go on stage were young children from the ages of around 5 to 16 years, from local schools around the Birmingham area. One of the groups of youngsters, who were dressed in traditional Indian clothing such as saris and heavy ornamental jewellery, were ‘Holyhead Bollywood’, a name inspired by their school of origin and style of dance. The children had been performing for just over a year at local Birmingham venues such as the Town Hall and Police Awards, and said they were already eager to return to Soho Road to celebrate Diwali next year and showcase their Bollywood inspired choreography again.

However, the Soho Mela did not solely feature singers and dancers who were performing South Asian music and dance styles. From the list acts who took to the stages, there were also reggae and rap artists. One young local rapper who performed at the festival said that it was his second year on stage at Soho Road. He commented on the liveliness of the crowd and “good atmosphere” at the event. He also further stated how everyone at the Mela was “just getting along”, as all branches of the community were coming together as one to enjoy the music.

The Mela saw performances from some international artists based outside of the UK as well. AW interviewed Manpreet Shergill. It was his fourth year returning to the UK from India to sing at local gigs, but his first time at Soho road. He commented on how he thoroughly enjoyed the love he received from the crowd during his performance, and also how felt right at home in England’s second city of Birmingham. He is soon to shoot a music video here in the UK and release 4 consecutive new singles, including a new hip-hop style track called ‘Black-out’ which will feature the iconic Asian artist Jasmine Sandlas.

One of the main headlining artists that our reporters interviewed at the Mela was MUJ Presley, an Indian Elvis Presley tribute act who had come to entertain audience members with his lively performance for the second year running. MUJ was dressed in a fully authentic and one-of-a-kind 70’s inspired jumpsuit, complete with embezzled stitching and tinted sunglasses. He said he was expecting a “magic” atmosphere at the Mela, and also praised the event for “getting all communities together.”

However, the Mela had a lot more to offer the crowd than music. There were also stalls advertising surrounding and national companies, from catering to banking, beauty, business and media. Locals were selling traditional South Asian clothing and textiles, as well as an array of vibrant and colourful occasion wear jewellery. Several national charities such as the NHS Organ Donation programme were on board as well. There were also volunteers from the Birmingham council, who were approaching members of the public in order to ask them for suggestions on how to improve their local ward.

Throughout the day, road closures were in place at the Soho Mela as traffic came to a standstill in order to accommodate the annual celebrations of Diwali. The road looked spectacular as the street and over-head lights were finally turned on for the holiday season. We definitely can’t wait to see what next year’s celebrations have in store!

Manisha Bhanot

In a message wishing her Sikh, Hindu and Jain constituents a Happy Diwali, Theresa said: “This year, the Diwali season overlaps with ceremonies to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War. At first sight, there seems to be nothing to connect this joyful Hindu festival with solemn remembrance of those who gave their lives in war.

“But there is a link between the two. 1.3 million men from pre-partition India fought for the Allies in the First World War. This week I have been wearing a special poppy made from khadi cotton made famous by Mahatma Ghandi.

“These limited-edition poppies have been produced by the Royal British Legion to commemorate the men from what was then the British Empire, and is now the Commonwealth, who fought in the First World War. Their sacrifice and service is something that should never be overlooked or forgotten.”

Also in the message, the former Northern Ireland Secretary said that Diwali provided an opportunity each year to celebrate the much-valued contribution that the British Indian community makes to society.

“This community have achieved great success in so many areas including, business, the public services, the media, and civic society. Over recent decades British Indians have changed our country for the better in many different ways.

“I have been attending Diwali celebrations for several years and I am always touched by the warm welcome I receive.

“Beyond the festivities and fun, Diwali is also a time for personal refection on making positive changes for the year ahead. I hope that all people, regardless of faith or background, can identify with the values unity, charity and forgiveness, which are part of the tradition of Diwali. Its message of the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil, should resonate with people of all faiths and none.”

Diwali festivities reach their peak tomorrow on Wednesday 7th November the ‘day of light’, coming to a close on Friday.

Theresa has attended a number of Diwali events this year including the 17th annual Parliamentary Diwali celebration, hosted by the Hindu Forum of Britain. She also joined the festivities at Bhaktivedanta Manor in Aldhenham at the weekend, the home of the Hare Krishna movement in the UK.   

The festival of Diwali also known as ‘Deepavali’, from the Sanskrit meaning row of lighted lamps’. Diwali is marked by lighting candles and letting off fireworks, recalling the traditional story of people lighting candles to welcome the Lord Rama home from exile.

Around 40,000 people are expected to attend each of the two main events – the Diwali Lights switch on, which takes place on Sunday October 28, and the Diwali Day festivities on Wednesday November 7.

There will also be the opportunity to join in a programme of smaller cultural activities, ranging from art workshops and storytelling to family-themed events, which will take place across the city.

The festivities will begin with the switch-on of 6,000 sparkling lights, which will illuminate Belgrave’s Golden Mile.

Running from 3pm to 9pm, the event features a programme of Asian music and dance on the main stage in Belgrave Road, a Diwali Village at nearby Cossington Street Recreation Ground, and a fireworks finale at 7.30pm.

This year’s main stage programme will feature a new dance piece presented by Curve Theatre; dancers from across the city will participate in a performance set on the streets of Mumbai. The show features choreography by Leicester’s renowned Aakash Odedra and Curve dance associate Melanie Knott.

Indian fashion, art and crafts will be on offer alongside children’s activities and a funfair at the Diwali Village, which is open from 3pm to 9pm, giving visitors the chance to explore the area before and after the main programme of events.

This year’s events will also include a stunning touring exhibition called Museum of the Moon, in which a detailed replica of the Earth’s satellite will be suspended above the heads of visitors to Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre from October 28 to November 7.

The venue will also host the ever-popular Rangoli exhibition of traditional Indian geometric art. The free drop-in event will run from October 28 to November 7.

Once again throughout the Diwali period, visitors will be able to gaze down on the illuminated Golden Mile from the 110-foot Wheel of Light ferris wheel which takes pride of place in the heart of Belgrave. It will be in action from October 26 to November 11.

The festivities will continue on Diwali Day, which takes place on November 7, from 3pm to 9pm.

The Golden Mile and surrounding area will once again come alive with a programme of live entertainment and the bustling Diwali Village at Cossington Street Recreation Ground, and a dazzling overhead firework display.

Leicester deputy city mayor responsible for culture and leisure, Cllr Piara Singh Clair said: “Leicester’s Diwali celebrations are famous worldwide, with tens of thousands of people coming to take part in the wonderful festivities on offer.

“This year’s events once again offer a combination of the best in traditional Indian music, dance and performance, along with activities for all ages at the Diwali Village and breathtaking firework displays at both the lights’ switch on event, and Diwali Day itself.

“These spectacular celebrations bring out the very best of what Leicester has to offer, and I’m very much looking forward to them once again.”

Diwali brochures highlighting all the main events are available now from Leicester’s libraries, museums and from the Visit Leicester information office in Gallowtree Gate.

A full programme of events is available online at visitleicester.info