[11 OCT 98]
COMMUNITY NEWS
Diwali Festival Lights Up
FoleshillCoventry's Diwali celebrations get
underway today with a laser extravaganza in Foleshill's Edgwick Park.
The laser show will round off a whole afternoon of
festivities that are set to include bhangra music and dance, the Mrittika Arts classical
dancers, Dhol Blasters, the Radio XL roadshow and a fairground. The Lord Mayor, Cllr Mrs
Maggie Rosher, will switch on the spectacular laser light finale at around 7.45pm
One of the highlights of the festival will be a lights and
lantern procession that sets off from the Courtaulds site on Lockhurst Lane at 6pm. Over a
hundred children will take part in the procession that will make its way to Edgwick Park
off Foleshill Road.
The Diwali Festival is organised each year by Coventry's
Hindu and Sikh communities. It has great religious significance for both communities.
| FACT FILE |
| The importance of the festival to the Hindu community will be portrayed during the afternoon in a drama
acted by the children from the Shree Shree Radha Krishna Cultural Centre. The play will
describe the life of King Rama who was exiled for 14 years. Upon his return he received an
overwhelming reception by his citizens who lit up the whole city with a string of lights.
That night the Festival of Lights - Diwali - was born. Lord Rama is considered an
incarnation of God who came to re-establish good values amongst the people and is revered
and worshipped to this day. |
| Diwali is also very significant to the Sikh community as on this day their sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind
Sahib was released from Gwalior Fort by the Moghual rulers along with the 52 kings and
princes who held on to tassels on a gown especially made at the request of Guruji. On his
release, Guruji went to Amritsar the holy city of the Sikhs and where even today the
Harimandar Sahib - Golden Temple complex - is lit up with thousands and thousands of
lights. |
| INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY COVENTRY INDIAN
COMMUNITY |
The event is supported by Coventry City
Council and the West Midlands Police.
For more information contact Mr PK Bhakri, President of the
Coventry Indian Community, on 01203 685896.
|
