Diwali Leicester, Dhanteras is the first day of the five-day Diwali, Happy Diwali, Events

Sat 2 Nov 2013

• Dance the Bollywood Dance at Curve
• Diwali Delights at New Walk Museum and Art Gallery
• Diwali Delights at Newarke Houses Museum & Gardens
• Diwali Hangama at Curve
• Eternal Taal Dhol Drummers at Curve

Diwali Day 3rd November 2013

Diwali Celebrations in Leicester are one of the biggest outside of India, with up to 35,000 people attending the switch on of the lights on Belgrave Road and even more attending Diwali day itself in the heart of the city's Asian community. Enjoy the fireworks display and live cultural entertainment on stage as the festival of light marks the start of the Hindu New Year.

Thanks to Tesco who are supporting this year’s Diwali celebrations.

Diwali Day

Sunday 3 November
6.00pm - 8.50pm
Cossington Street Recreation Ground

There will be entertainment on Cossington Street Recreation Ground, including a cultural 
programme of events on stage, starting at 6.00pm and concluding with a spectacular firework 
display at 8.30pm.

5.30pm – Belgrave flyover & Belgrave Road closed
6.30pm – Stage entertainment at Cossington Street Recreation Ground
8.30pm – Firework display
8.50pm – Firework display ends
9.30pm – Belgrave Road re-opens

Diwali Greetings

As Leicester’s city mayor, I’m delighted to have this opportunity to send 

Diwali greetings to you all. To those visiting Leicester to share Diwali with us, 
may I give you the warmest of welcomes on behalf of our city. Outside of India, 
Leicester’s Diwali celebrations are among the largest in the world. Each year we 
see Belgrave Road transformed into a glorious tableau of light and colour as we 
mark the victory of light over darkness. I would like to thank all those who make 
our Diwali possible, particularly Leicester City Council’s festival and events, parks 
services and highways teams, the Leicester Hindu Festival Council and every volunteer 
and contactor involved. I would also like to thank Leicestershire Constabulary, 
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and St John Ambulance who do so much 
to make our celebrations safe and successful. This year the city has had the wonderful 
news that we have reached a shortlist of four cities competing for the title of UK City of 
Culture 2017. Diwali is one of the many celebrations that makes Leicester’s culture so 
vibrant and unique and winning the bid would see this recognised nationally. As we 
draw closer to the announcement of the winning city in November I encourage everyone 
to get on board and back the bid. I’d like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a 
happy and prosperous Diwali.

Peter Soulsby - city mayor

Diwali is one of the most important and prestigious festivals in our 
culture, bringing together people from all cultures in a spirit of  
friendship and greater understanding. It has grown from strength to 
strength as a main attraction in the festival calendar of the city. 
This year we are delighted to welcome the incredible production 
of Spellbound; the story of Rama and Sita. Depicting the traditional 
Hindu story of love, loyalty and friendship, this breathtaking touring performance uses a 
combination of shadow puppetry and beautifully choreographed Bharata Natyam traditional 
dance. It is my proud privilege to be the chair of the Diwali working group. I would like to 
express my thanks to the Leicester Hindu Festival Council for their hard work to make the 
celebration a success. In addition I thank all other council departments and agencies. So it 
gives me great pleasure to join in the celebrations by wishing you all a very happy and 
peaceful Diwali.

Councillor Piara Singh Clair - Assistant city mayor and chair of Diwali working group

Diwali What's On

>Find out about other events and celebrations taking place 

across the city

Getting There

>Find out about how to plan your journey to the event and 

road closures

Staying Safe at Diwali

>Important information about staying Safe at Diwali

Need Further Information

>Get the latest updates and read all about the festival of Diwali 

in our Diwali guide

on Facebook  and Twitter

Dhanteras ( Hindi : धनतेरस, Sanskrit/Marathi : धनत्रयोदशी) is the first day of the five-day Diwali Festival as celebrated in India. The festival, known as "Dhanatrayodashi" or "Dhanvantari Trayodashi".The word Dhan means wealth and Teras means 13th day as per Hindu calendar. It is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) in the Hindu calendar month of Ashwin.
On Dhanteras, Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped to provide prosperity and well being. Dhanteras holds special significance for the business community due to the customary purchases of precious metals on this day.
Lord Kubera, the God of assets and wealth is also worshiped on this day.