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| Leicester's Golden Mile lights up for Diwali celebrations | Leicester's Golden Mile lights up for Diwali celebrations |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 30,000 people have gathered along Leicester's Golden Mile for the city's annual Diwali celebrations. | More than 30,000 people have gathered along Leicester's Golden Mile for the city's annual Diwali celebrations. |
| Crowds enjoyed traditional Indian music and dance along Belgrave Road to mark the festival of light. | Crowds enjoyed traditional Indian music and dance along Belgrave Road to mark the festival of light. |
| Leicester's celebrations are said to be among the biggest outside India. | Leicester's celebrations are said to be among the biggest outside India. |
| The crowds enjoyed food, music and dance before the celebrations ended with a display of 5,000 fireworks at Cossington Street Recreation Ground. | The crowds enjoyed food, music and dance before the celebrations ended with a display of 5,000 fireworks at Cossington Street Recreation Ground. |
| Members of De Montfort University's Bollywood Dance Society performed as part of the celebrations, while some just watched the entertainment. | Members of De Montfort University's Bollywood Dance Society performed as part of the celebrations, while some just watched the entertainment. |
| Diwali is one of the biggest festivals in the Indian calendar and is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains all over the world. Its name is taken from a Sanskrit word meaning row of lights. | Diwali is one of the biggest festivals in the Indian calendar and is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains all over the world. Its name is taken from a Sanskrit word meaning row of lights. |
| It also marks the start of the Hindu New Year. | It also marks the start of the Hindu New Year. |
| Dean of Leicester David Monteith said: "Light is a common symbol of all our religions and a big part of this festival is the triumph of light over darkness." | Dean of Leicester David Monteith said: "Light is a common symbol of all our religions and a big part of this festival is the triumph of light over darkness." |
| Indian artist Janak Chauhan came to Leicester to create a rangoli art exhibition in the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre, which included creating patterns with coloured sand. | Indian artist Janak Chauhan came to Leicester to create a rangoli art exhibition in the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre, which included creating patterns with coloured sand. |
| Deputy city mayor Rory Palmer said: "It has been a great atmosphere. It is something for Leicester to be proud of." | Deputy city mayor Rory Palmer said: "It has been a great atmosphere. It is something for Leicester to be proud of." |
| Leicester's festivities were the culmination of months of planning by a dedicated committee. | Leicester's festivities were the culmination of months of planning by a dedicated committee. |
| Jashvant Chauhan, secretary of the Leicester Hindu Festival Council, said: "All the items of entertainment appeal to everyone. | Jashvant Chauhan, secretary of the Leicester Hindu Festival Council, said: "All the items of entertainment appeal to everyone. |
| "Young and old have all come together and showed their energy in their performances." | "Young and old have all come together and showed their energy in their performances." |
| Celebrations also include the lighting of earthen lamps, bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets. | Celebrations also include the lighting of earthen lamps, bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets. |