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| Last year’s Diwali in the Square welcomed 3000 people ... despite the rain |
19 Oct 2010: The Indian festival of light is to be celebrated with an event in the centre of Glasgow.
On November 7, George Square will host a day of family fun and entertainment to mark Diwali.
The event, which will run between 1pm and 7pm, will feature Indian music and dancing, stalls and authentic food.
It will be only the second time the festival has been celebrated in the centre of the city.
The Diwali festival in George Square last year attracted more than 3000 visitors who enjoyed a range of Hindu and Sikh entertainment - despite torrential rain.
Glasgow councillor Sadie Docherty, who has been appointed an ambassador for the festival, said: “Diwali is a popular and important festival representing the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
“Glasgow City Council is pleased to promote Diwali in the Square as an important addition to Glasgow’s increasingly diverse cultural calendar.”
The celebrations will be opened by the Hindu Temple of Scotland and there will be demonstrations of Ganapathi Pooja, Bharathnatyam and kathakali dance and devotional songs greeting the God will be sung by professional male and female singers.
Amit Arora, business development director with event organisers Oceanic Consulting said: ”We hope with the help of councillor Docherty and the continued support of the Hindu Temple of Scotland that the 2010 Diwali at the Square celebrations will top last year’s.
“The first Diwali at the Square celebrations in 2009 saw over 3000 visitors throughout the day enjoy a variety of entertainment including authentic Hindu and Sikh singing and dancing, interactive Bollywood dance workshops, a variety of stalls selling clothing, jewellery and food, face painting and fire breathers.
“Glasgow is Scotland’s biggest city and the most diverse for culture and entertainment.
“Embracing Diwali at the Square 2010 will guarantee that by the time tourists pour in for the Commonwealth Games in 2014, Glasgow’s rich culture scene will be even more diverse.”
Mrs Padmini Raman of the Hindu Temple of Scotland said: “India is very much a diversified country with different states having different cultures and traditions.
“The Hindu Temple of Scotland aims to promote the ideals of Hinduism and Cultural beliefs originated in the Southern States of India.
“It will be on the stage on November 7 to give the audience a flavor of our culture and tradition and also to celebrate Diwali which is festival of joy, prosperity, good luck and a celebration of victory of good over evil.”
In South India, Diwali is the main festival of the year and is celebrated by bursting fire crackers, wearing new clothes and sharing sweets.
People visit the temple and rows of lamps are lit in homes and burned for several days.
To Hindus, darkness represents ignorance while light represents knowledge so lighting a lamp symbolises the destruction of all evil forces.