Leicester’s Diwali, once celebrated as the largest outside India, will see a curtailed version this year. The Labour-led city council has cancelled the fireworks display, stage performances, and the popular Diwali Village, citing safety concerns. What remains are street lanterns, 6,000 LED lights, a Ferris wheel, and a one-night road closure.
The move comes after Leicester’s multi-agency Safety Advisory Group warned that last year’s crowd of 55,000 created near-crush conditions, blocked emergency access routes, and stretched crowd management to its limits.
This year, Belgrave Road will close only on October 20, inviting visitors to enjoy the Golden Mile’s shops and restaurants under the glow of diya-shaped lanterns and the Wheel of Light, which now serve as the festival’s main attractions.
Many community leaders and residents who cherish Leicester’s Diwali celebrations on Belgrave Road are disheartened by this year’s cancellation, saying it will impact both community spirit and local businesses.
A proposal to reinstate fireworks and cultural activities at this year’s Leicester Diwali was rejected over safety concerns. The Belgrave Business Association warned the event risked being “hollowed out” and submitted alternative plans, but the city’s Safety Advisory Group ruled them out.
In a statement shared with Asian Voice, Member of Parliament for Leicester East, Shivani Raja said, “Leicester’s Diwali celebrations on the Golden Mile are world-renowned and a true symbol of community, culture, and economic vibrancy in our city. Together with Neil O’Brien MP, I have written to the Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police to raise important safety concerns. I am also pressing DCMS Secretary of State, Lisa Nandy MP, to ensure this much-loved event goes ahead as it should. The BBA has my full backing in its efforts to protect Diwali celebrations, and I will continue doing everything I can to support them and our community in safeguarding this cherished tradition.”
Belgrave Business Association spokesperson Nisha Popat said she has worked with Hindu, Jain, and Sikh groups to protect the future of Diwali on the Golden Mile. “Diwali is more than a festival – it symbolises light, belonging, and community,” she said. Leicester’s celebrations, nurtured for many years, are internationally recognised, but cutbacks risk hollowing out this proud tradition, harming both local businesses and community spirit. Despite raising funds and offering scaled-back plans to address safety concerns, she said cultural activities have been removed. “The Council must work in genuine partnership to protect Diwali as one of Britain’s most important multicultural traditions.”
For decades, Leicester’s Diwali has been a symbol of British-Asian pride, attracting tens of thousands and showcasing the city’s multicultural spirit. The festival, first lit up in the 1980s, grew into the largest celebration outside India with fireworks, food stalls, and cultural performances.
Scaled-back Diwali leaves Leicester in dismay
Leicester’s Diwali has long been a festival of light, unity, and joy, but many feel nostalgic and saddened by this year’s cutbacks. Community leaders and business owners told Asian Voice the changes risk weakening the festival’s spirit and hurting Belgrave Road businesses that rely on Diwali for their biggest footfall and revenue.
Vimalji Odedra, President of the National Council of Gujarati Organisations UK (NCGO UK), said, “The Leicester Diwali Celebration along Belgrave Road is a vibrant acknowledgement of the Hindu festival, fostering diversity and unity within the community. It holds special meaning for many, especially Gujaratis, embodying joy, reflection, and community spirit. The council’s decision to cut back celebrations is disheartening for our community and the local businesses that thrive during this festive period.”
He added, “The council’s choice feels dismissive to the Hindu community, which has contributed so much to Leicester’s cultural fabric. I urge councillors to urgently reconsider. Even with limited resources, working with local businesses for sponsorship could help ensure the continuation of these beloved Diwali festivities.”
Vinod Kotecha, former Director of the Confederation of Indian Organisations (UK), said, “Leicester Diwali means a lot to me and the Hindu community as the biggest celebration outside India. The cutbacks will hurt local business and community spirit on Belgrave Road. With more than 40,000 visitors each year, Diwali has both cultural and economic importance, but Leicester City Council seems to lack recognition of this. Instead of scaling down, the council should reconsider and provide adequate security to ensure the celebration continues smoothly.”
Gitanjali Chavda of Narayan Seva Sansthan UK in Leicester echoed these concerns, saying, “Diwali here is more than just a festival, it’s a celebration of light, unity, and shared values. For Hindus it represents faith, tradition, and family, but for the wider city it has become a symbol of Leicester’s diversity and togetherness.”
On the cutbacks, she added, “The lights and festivities bring thousands of visitors to Belgrave Road each year, vital for restaurants, sweet shops, and small businesses. Without them, footfall will drop and the joy and unity Diwali brings will feel diminished. Diwali isn’t just religious, it’s a cultural and economic event that showcases Leicester globally. Local authorities must work with businesses and cultural groups to find sustainable solutions. Investing in Diwali is investing in Leicester’s identity, economy, and community cohesion.”
Vinod Popat of the Hindu Community Organisations Group said, “Leicester City Council has announced that this year’s Diwali celebrations will be drastically scaled back. There will be no Diwali Village at Cossington Park, no stage entertainment, and no fireworks display, only a road closure along Belgrave and Melton Road in the evening. For our Hindu, Jain, and Sikh communities, this decision is deeply disappointing. Fireworks have always been central to Diwali, symbolising the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. To remove them is to remove the heart of the festival.”
He added, “Some have suggested boycotting the event, but in truth, there is nothing left to boycott. With no entertainment and no fireworks, what remains is little more than a traffic diversion. Asking people not to attend would only hurt local businesses, restaurants, shops, and traders who depend on the festive season. Leicester has proudly celebrated the ‘biggest Diwali outside India’ for decades, it is part of the city’s identity and multicultural pride. Without fireworks, a stage, or a village, the festival risks becoming a shadow of itself.”
Raman Barber MBE DL, a member of Leicester’s Hindu community, spoke about the city’s long-standing Diwali celebrations. “Leicester has celebrated Diwali for over 50 years, with one of the largest gatherings outside Asia. Thousands attend the switch-on ceremony, which includes Lakshmi Puja, lights, fireworks, and stage performances by local and celebrity artists. It brings together not just Hindus, but people from all communities, fostering friendship and harmony.”
He explained that the Leicester Hindu Festival Council has traditionally worked with the city council to manage logistics, funding, and sponsorships. “Previously, roads were closed for two days for the festival, but this year the council decided there will be no fireworks or stage shows, only a one-day celebration. This will affect attendance and local businesses, and the community is disappointed, as Diwali without fireworks and performances isn’t the same.”
Barber added that while Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and other communities support the festival, this year’s scaled-back plans have left them “very upset.”
Retired Leicester businessman Mukund Samani shared a more mixed view. He said, “For many Hindu families like mine, Diwali on Belgrave Road has always been about coming together as a family, even for those who’ve moved away. Let’s see what happens this year. I do agree with the council that the current set-up is unsafe, last year it was frightening, as 30,000 people tried to leave Cossington Park at once, and walking just 500 yards took over forty minutes.”
“At the same time, I feel the council is using false excuses and our elected Asian councillors aren’t doing enough to serve the community. From what I’ve seen, most local businesses remain confident these changes won’t hurt them financially, though some smaller outlets may struggle. Overall, the community spirit is still strong,” he added.
Founder & CEO, VARU Beauty, Jigna Varu said, “Leicester’s Diwali celebrations are more than a festival, they are a symbol of light triumphing over darkness, a spiritual reminder of hope, renewal, and unity. For decades, Belgrave Road has been at the heart of this celebration, drawing families and visitors from across the UK and beyond. The recent cutbacks risk dimming not only the lights, but also the spirit of togetherness and the vital boost to local businesses that depend on this season. For many shopkeepers and families, Diwali is their busiest and most meaningful time of year. To scale it back is in stark contrast to the festival’s very essence of spreading joy and optimism. Personally, I’d like to see local authorities work collaboratively with communities and businesses to ensure Diwali continues to shine as a beacon of pride for the city.”
Bharti Rameshchandra Acharya, a community member who has been living in Leicester for 50 years said, “Leicester’s Diwali is not just a Hindu festival, it is a defining part of the city’s identity, drawing visitors from across the UK and giving a vital boost to Belgrave Road businesses. The cutbacks feel like a disregard for both the cultural and economic importance of Diwali, leaving many in the community frustrated and let down. Small businesses, who depend heavily on the festive season, now face uncertainty at a time when they should be thriving. If Leicester is to retain its reputation as the “Diwali capital of Europe,” local authorities must prioritise this celebration on the same level as other flagship events, working with community and business leaders to safeguard and grow it for the future.”
*Asian Voice approached Leicester City Council for the comment
