| Two very different events, one originating in India and | | | | one in Neasden, in northwest London, was the largest |
| the other in Europe - and both of which could be | | | | outside India until a new one was opened near |
| described as 'celebrations of light' - are now held in | | | | Birmingham in August 2006. |
| Britain every year between mid-October and early | | | | For Hindus, Diwali celebrates the return of King Rama |
| December. The occurrence of these events is one | | | | and his wife Sita to his kingdom on the last night of |
| indication of the multi-cultural nature of modern British | | | | their 14-year exile and, to help them find their way in |
| life. One is Diwali, the Hindu festival, and the other is the | | | | the dark, their people lit small lamps to illuminate the |
| traditional Swedish 'Lucia Day'. | | | | path. Hence the name Diwali, which is a shortened |
| Diwali - the Festival of Lights - is the most popular | | | | version of the Sanskrit word Deepavali, meaning 'Row |
| Hindu religious festival, although it is also celebrated by | | | | of lights'. Hindus also hope that the lamps will help the |
| Sikhs and Jains. Diwali is the third day of the 5-day | | | | goddess Lakshmi find her way into their homes, |
| celebration that marks the Hindu New Year. Because | | | | because Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth. |
| Diwali is a date in the Hindu calendar, which is based | | | | For Sikhs, Diwali is an ancient festival and the |
| on the lunar cycle, the date in the western calendar | | | | foundation stone of the Golden Temple in Amritsar |
| varies from year to year between mid-October and | | | | was laid on Diwali in the year 1588. They also |
| mid-November. | | | | celebrate the return to Amritsar of the Sixth Guru in |
| Lucia, in contrast, is a uniquely Swedish event that | | | | 1620 after his imprisonment. Jains celebrate the |
| takes place every year on December 13th and | | | | attainment of a state of Nirvana on this day by the |
| recognises the longest night of the year. Using the | | | | founder of their religion. |
| modern calendar, the longest night is that of 20th/21st | | | | People celebrate Diwali by 'spring' cleaning their houses, |
| December, but Lucia dates from the time of the older | | | | dressing up in their finest clothes, and feasting. The |
| calendar. For some reason, when the calendar | | | | festival is characterized by fireworks, sweets and gifts |
| changed, the Swedes stayed with the date rather | | | | and for this reason is especially popular with families |
| than the event. | | | | and children. Lamps or candles are displayed in the |
| Part one of this article describes Diwali as celebrated | | | | windows of houses, and lights are erected in streets |
| in Britain, with some background information on the | | | | and public places. |
| Hindu community in this country. Part two will talk about | | | | Diwali celebrations take place in Britain in towns with |
| Lucia celebrations in England. | | | | large Hindu populations; especially well known are |
| Hinduism is the world's third most common religion with | | | | those in London and Leicester. This year (2006), the |
| between 900 million and 1 billion followers: 80% of the | | | | London event took place last Sunday, October 15th in |
| population of India are Hindu. There have been Hindus | | | | Trafalgar Square. After prayers, the visitors (of all |
| in Britain for a long time, and they now number over | | | | beliefs and none - everyone is welcome) were |
| half a million. London and Leicester, in particular, have | | | | entertained by traditional and modern Indian music, |
| large Hindu populations. In the 2001 census for England, | | | | singing and dancing. After dark, light displays and |
| 1.1% of the population gave their religion as Hindu and | | | | floating lanterns lit up the square. |
| 0.7% as Sikh. Twenty percent of the population of the | | | | In Leicester, the date for 2006 is next Saturday, 21st |
| London Borough of Harrow are Hindu, while one | | | | October in one of the largest celebrations of Diwali |
| quarter of the population of the City of Leicester are | | | | outside India. |
| of Indian origin. The first Hindu school will open shortly in | | | | Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, |
| London, while in Leicestershire, the River Soar has | | | | good over evil, hope over despair, and thus carries a |
| been approved for the scattering of ashes following | | | | potent message for the future, not just for Hindus, |
| Hindu cremations. Many towns have Hindu temples: the | | | | Sikhs and Jains, but for us all. |