Sweet treats and fleet feet at Middlesbrough Diwali
For Kash Patel, a big Diwali celebration was the perfect way to mark the end of the pandemic. After all, the ancient festival celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, symbolises the victory of light over darkness.
That’s why, in October 2020, Kash organised Middlesbrough’s first Diwali festival. He said, “It was quite poignant in the sense we were seeing the light as we came out of the pandemic.”
This year’s Diwali, which will be held in Middlesbrough Centre Square on Saturday 2nd November 2024 from 12pm-6pm, is supported by funding made possible by National Lottery players. Like the previous three events, it is completely free and culminates in a Bollywood-themed firework finale.
Kash, who also organises Diwali events in London and Luton, said the scarcity of events aimed at Middlesbrough’s south-east Asian community inspired his decision to stage the festival in the North Yorkshire town. He said, “Often you find people of south-east Asian descent don’t go to concerts or events. This gives them the chance to access something on their doorstep.”
Diwali, of course, is a celebration that’s open to everyone. Kash said, “It’s basically a family-friendly event with a main stage featuring local, national and international performers, a fun fair, lots of children’s activities and a huge bazaar.”
Food plays an important part in Diwali and there will be all sorts of vegetarian treats on offer. Jalebi, an orange, spiral-shaped sweet, is particularly popular during the festival as well as Barfi, a rich, creamy fudge-like Indian dessert. Kash also recommends Gulab Jamun, the fried dumplings scented with cardamom and steeped in rose and saffron syrup that are a firm festival favourite.
Middlesbrough Diwali is also an opportunity to sample Garba, a traditional form of Gujarati folk dance and song. Kash said, “We always aim for a bit of audience participation to get people in the mood. The dancers will be in full costume so it’s incredibly colourful.”
National Lottery funding plays a crucial role in allowing events such as Middlesbrough Diwali to bring communities together. Kash said, “Without the support of The National Lottery the kind of arts and cultural events that I produce could not go ahead. It’s crucial for organisers like myself to make things like Diwali Middlesbrough a reality.”
Kash believes it’s never been more important to celebrate this ancient festival. He said, “Diwali dates back hundreds of thousands of years and it’s all about the triumph of love over hate, light over darkness. I think it’s more important than ever that festivals like this are celebrated across all cultures.”
You can get more information about Middlesbrough Diwali here.
8th October 2024
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