Diwali is the Indian festival of lights, usually lasting five days and celebrated during the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika.
One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali signifies the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”.
It’s one of the most significant festivals in the Indian calendar. Having said that it also means that big celebrations in multicultural cities in Britain, too. In London, Birmingham, Belfast, Edinburgh, Leicester and other multicultural cities in Britain, British Asians celebrate Diwali. Celebrations include firework displays, Diwali lanterns, music, dancing, plays, as well as delicious popular, traditional yet contemporary Indian food and sweets.
Prince Charles was quoted saying “This brings you all my warmest greetings on the occasion of Diwali and, for those of you marking a New Year, let me wish you a happy, peaceful and prosperous year ahead.”
Also read: Throwback to the time when Meghan Markle won the entire nation’s heart by wearing an Indian saree.
The Prince of Wales, Charles, sends his best wishes to those celebrating the Festival of #Diwali.
For more royal family updates: follow The Royal UK on Instagram
It’s not the first time that Prince Charles is celebrating Diwali so enthusiastically. In 2007, their Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London. The event was marked to participate in the celebrations of Diwali. After being greeted in a traditional Indian manner, the Royal couple progressed to the sanctum sanctorum where they endeavoured flower petals at the central shrine
In his address to the assembly, His Royal Highness began by speaking of his “great opportunity” of visiting the temple on this “exceedingly auspicious occasion of Diwali… the most wonderful festival of light.” He specifically thanked BAPS volunteers for their “overwhelming warmth” on each of his previous visits to the Mandir – now totalling three – and felt especially touched for being allowed to participate in the sacred rituals, even joking about bringing his own account books to the temple so that they, too, could be “specially blessed.”
Also read: Queen Elizabeth’s most glamorous jewels, brooch and tiaras.
London and Leicester, which is in the north of England, has one of the most important Diwali celebrations outside of India. The Festival of Light in Leicester begins with a display of thousands of lights along Belgrave Road, also known as ‘The Golden Mile’. There are Bollywood singing and dancing. You can go late-night shopping and restaurants stay open late too. All this is followed by spectacular fireworks. Tourists, visitors and local residents are all welcome to enjoy the fun! Leicester’s Asian community say that this is the best (as well as the biggest!) Diwali celebration outside of India.
His Royal Highness ended by wishing everyone a “Shubh Deepawali… and every possible success” in the years to come.
If you liked the article, kindly share it with your friends, groups and family members 
