Diwali in Wolverhampton: Everything you need to know about the annual festival of light and what to expect on the night
One of the biggest celebrations of the festival of lights is set to bring thousands of people to a city park for a night of fun, music and fireworks.
Phoenix Park in Wolverhampton will once again be the setting for the Wolverhampton Diwali event, an event organised by Wolverhampton Council and set to bring Hindus, Sikhs and other members of the community to the Blakenhall area of the city.
The annual event marks one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism and is a huge part of the social calendar for those religions, as well as a time for families to come together.
Ahead of the big celebration on Saturday, we've taken a look at what Diwali is, what is done to celebrate it and what people can expect from the big event in Wolverhampton.
What is Diwali?
Diwali, the "Festival of Lights," celebrates the spiritual victory of light over darkness and good over evil, with celebrations varying by religious tradition.
Celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, it symbolizes new beginnings and, for Hindus, it often marks the return of Lord Rama or welcomes the goddess Lakshmi, while Jains celebrate the enlightenment of Lord Mahavira and Sikhs the release of Guru Hargobind Ji.
What are some of the other traditions observed during Diwali?
During the festival, diyas are lit and placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses and set adrift on rivers and streams. Homes are decorated, and floors inside and out are covered with rangolis, consisting of elaborate designs made of colored rice, sand, or flower petals.
The doors and windows of houses are kept open in the hope that Lakshmi will find her way inside and bless the residents with wealth and success.
