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Could this be the last Diwali celebrations on the 'Golden Mile' in Leicester?
The future of the world-famous Diwali celebrations along the "Golden Mile" in Belgrave Road in the Belgrave area of Leicester could be at risk.
It brings the South Asian community together to celebrate the festival of light with the wider population and includes a fireworks display, performances of Indian dance, allows people to explore the Sari and jewellery shops and try a range of food.
Leicester City Council is considering moving the celebrations to another location over concerns about public safety, due to increasing numbers of people who attend - but no decisions have yet been taken.
Meetings have been had between the council, the emergency services and businesses and whilst there is a desire to keep it in the "Golden Mile" it may have to be moved to an alternative venue for this year's celebrations.
PROS OF HOLDING THE EVENT ON THE 'GOLDEN MILE':
Many of the Sari and jewellery shops are based within the "Golden Mile" which creates a great atmosphere for the event.
It's part of the city's tradition and history. The first event back in 1983 ran along Belgrave Road from Dorset Street to Loughborough Road and were switched on by the community's oldest resident.
Good for business - several traders want it on the road as they get a lot of people visiting their businesses and shops during the event.
Nationally and internationally renowned and brings people to the "Golden Mile".
Nisha Popat, chair Belgrave Business Association, said: "Diwali should stay on the Golden Mile. This is where it started forty years ago.
"We want everybody to be safe, however, festivals happen all over the country everyday and you go to music festivals where there are huge crowds.
Nisha Popat, chair Belgrave Business Association
"And given it's different space, but there is a large number of people gathered in a small space.
"We want to work closely with the city council to look at how these risks can be mitigated and Diwali can continue on Belgrave Road.
"I was quite heartened by the meeting yesterday, there seemed a very strong commitment from the city mayor that he felt the celebration should be on the golden mile."
Some of the celebrations can be a disruption for shops. and businesses due to the scale of the event.
'No movement for forty minutes'. Last year the council said people were standing shoulder-to-shoulder in Rothley Street. Where there are particular static events you get build up of people.
Fireworks. The council is considering if they should be having fireworks, if they should be having a stage and whether it should be having those events that mean people become stationary or going to a particular mass area rather than enjoying the experience of the Golden Mile and meeting their friends and seeing the lights.
Concerns about public safety at the popular event due to increasing crowd numbers.
WHAT LEICESTER CITY COUNCIL SAYS
A Leicester City Council spokesperson said: 'There have been several meetings over recent months with members of the Diwali safety advisory group and community representatives to discuss concerns about public safety at the popular event due to increasing crowd numbers.
'A further follow-up meeting attended by the city mayor, executive lead for culture and representatives from the emergency services and the community will take place to review options being considered including moving the event to a more suitable location, although no decisions have yet been taken.'
Our reporter Rajiv Popat has also spoken to Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for Leicester City Council.
She said: "Last year after the fireworks everybody came away from Cossington Park and there was a mass of people, in Rothley Street, shoulder-to-shoulder, no movement for forty minutes.
"The year before that we had a similar sort fo event at that time it was where the stage is and that is where the problem lies.
"It's where there are particular static events you get a build up of people."
Asked about whether the fireworks could be cancelled, Cllr Dempster said: "That is one of the factors that we need to look at.
"We need to consider should we be having fireworks, should we be having a stage, should we be having those events that mean people become stationary, people go to a particular area, mass in a particular area rather than enjoying the experience of the Golden Mile and meeting their friends and seeing the lights."
HISTORY OF DIWALI IN LEICESTER
Every year 40,000 people flock to Belgrave Road in Leicester for the biggest Diwali celebrations outside of India.
The colourful festivities take place on two separate days, with the lights switch-on followed by Diwali Day two weeks later.
Full road closure are usually in place for the event with nearby junctions with side roads also off-limits.
In 1977 Leicester City Council set up the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre in a former Methodist church on the Belgrave Road. During the following decade, this was to have a significant effect on Diwali celebrations in the city.
The first lights went on display in 1983 and by the 1990s the Diwali celebrations had developed a national reputation.
The celebrations now reflect a new age, a stronger community and a greater ambition for a festival with an international reputation.
WHAT IS DIWALI
Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil as well as knowledge over ignorance.
It also marks a new beginning symbolised by the arrival of a new moon.
The festival is significant for various reasons according to the different faiths participating:
Hinduism: For Hindus, it marks Rama and his wife Sita's eventual defeat of the evil spirit Ravana and celebrates their triumphant return to their kingdom in Ayodhya after a 14-year exile. The story narrates that oil lamps were lit by passers by to guide them on their way home and to rejoice in their victory. The festival of Diwali also celebrates the day Mother Goddess Durga destroyed a demon called Mahisha.
Sikhism: For Sikhs, Diwali marks and celebrates the release of the sixth Guru, Hargobind Singh from a Mughal Empire prison in 1619. Sikhs mark the day as Bandi Chhor Diwas. However, Diwali was celebrated even prior to this. In fact, the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar - which is the most holy place in the Sikh world, was laid on Diwali in 1577.
Jainism: The founder of Jainism is Lord Mahavira. During Diwali, Jains celebrate the moment he reached a state called Moksha (nirvana, or eternal bliss - and freedom from the cycle of reincarnation). It is said that the earth and the heavens were illuminated with lamps to mark the occasion of Lord Mahavira's enlightenment.
