Diwali celebrations in Leicester draws crowds of thousands

Leicester’s Diwali celebrations attracted about 30,000 people to the city on Sunday.

The annual Diwali festivities – among the largest outside India – saw the Golden Mile along Belgrave Road illuminated, the return of the Wheel of Light and venues hosting exhibitions, workshops and family activities.

Diwali, the festival of light, is celebrated by Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities and is associated with the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and hope over despair.

People gathered in the city on the weekend, with the main focus of celebrations at Cossington Recreation Ground, where a full philharmonic orchestra was one of a number of performers.