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Festival of lights to shine on Sunderland
Added: (Wed Oct 07 2009)
Diwali celebrations to take place on 25 October at the Seaburn Centre
Hundreds of people from across North East England are expected to gather at this year’s Sunderland Festival of Lights to celebrate Diwali.
The Sunderland Festival of Lights, which is being organised by Sangini, the city's minority-led women's health organisation, will take place on Sunday evening, 25 October, at the Seaburn Centre in Sunderland.
Marking the start of a New Year in the traditional Indian calendar, festivities will include a lamp-lighting ceremony, music, dance, and an exhibition with information and arts and crafts suitable for all the family.
Shruti Jain, chair of Sangini, said: “Diwali symbolises the victory of good over evil, light over dark, and knowledge over ignorance, which is why it is called the Festival of Lights. It is one of the most ancient and popular of all the Indian festivals and teaches people to uphold the true values of life. The Festival of Lights is an excellent way to mark this and the 2009 line-up promises a fun-filled evening for all the family.
The evening will kick off with a ceremony where lamps – diyas – will be lit to symbolise the victory of good over evil. Traditional Asian music and dance will take place featuring a performance by Supriya from Manasamitra, an artist-led organisation based in Yorkshire. The routine is called Surtaal – the Story of India.
This will be followed by Afro-Caribbean dance and music by artists from Cuba and the Dominican Republic, plus a DJ playing Bhangra and Bollywood music.
National artist Ranbir Kaur will demonstrate live rangoli, which is a traditional form of Indian art, throughout the evening. An exhibition with information and arts and crafts stalls and traditional Indian food will also be on offer.
Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Paul Watson said: “I am pleased to welcome The Festival of Lights to Sunderland once again. Diwali is all about bringing families, friends and members from all communities together and this event will offer the perfect opportunity for people to do just that.”
Shruti Jain concluded: “Last year's Diwali festivities saw everyone enter into the spirit of the event, which included fantastic performances from community groups, a brilliant DJ, dance and great food. The Festival of Lights aims to bring communities together and everyone – from all backgrounds and faiths – is welcome to come and help celebrate the festival and learn more about it.”
The Festival takes place on Sunday October 25 at Seaburn Centre in Sunderland from 5.30pm to 10.30pm.
Tickets are £7.50 for adults or £5 for children under 12 and concessions. Family tickets cost £20. They are available from Sangini on 534 6661 or by emailing info@sangini.org.uk, and must be bought in advance.
The Sunderland Festival of Lights is supported by Sunderland City Council, Pakistani Cultural Society, Back on the Map, and the Northern Rock Foundation.
For more information or to organise interviews contact Shruti Jain on 07921453793.
Notes for editors
- About Diwali
Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and usually lasts for five consecutive days, each day with its own religious significance. The date is set by the Hindu calendar which is based on the movement of the moon and usually takes place in October or November.
The word Diwali means ‘rows of lighted lamps’ and the celebration is often referred to as the Festival of Lights because of the common practice of lighting small oil lamps called diyas and placing them around the home or other public buildings.
The festival is a time for thoroughly spring-cleaning the home, for wearing new clothes and most importantly, decorating houses, shops, and public places with rows of lights. Other ways to celebrate Diwali often include exchanging gifts and greetings cards, and firework displays.
- About Sangini
Sangini is a minority led women’s health organisation. It was set up by a group of women who identified a gap in the area of health and plays a crucial role in developing a sustainable infrastructure for social cohesion through participation and education. As a multi-cultural organisation, the emphasis is on promoting multi-cultural arts and cultural activities. This has made Sangini unique, in that it aims to reach disadvantaged and hard to reach groups in an innovative and creative way whilst providing opportunities for tackling inequalities in health. Arts activities include everything from dance, music and creative writing to culturally diverse approaches to ‘well-being’.
For more information about Sangini visit www.sangini.org.uk