October 16, 2015
On Saturday 17 October, Manchester will be celebrating its tenth anniversary of Dashehra Diwali Mela. The celebration of Dashehra Diwali Mela will see various religions coming together at Albert Square to celebrate with music, food and dancing.
Celebrated by Hindu, Nepalese, Jain and Sikh across the world, Diwali symbolises the victory of good over evil, as well as marking the start of the Hindu New Year.
Dashehra is a popular festival that is celebrated on the tenth day of the waxing moon during the Hindu month of Ashvin. The festival is to celebrate Lord Ramayan killing the 10-headed demon King Raven who abducted Lord Ram’s wife. It is believed that the battle lasted ten days, with Lord Ram finally killing the demon on the tenth day.
The festival of lights is a symbolism of the end of darkness that represents ignorance and the lights symbolise the beginning of knowledge.
With over thirty stalls offering speciality gifts as well as Asian foods, arts and craft workshops with a fun fair for children, this event is expected to attract thousands of people across the region.
Music and dance performances will take place at 2:00 – 6:30pm, followed by an immersive and captivating outdoor final show of Lantern Procession: “Cast the Light.”
The climax of the Diwali Mela will feature the burning of a 30” high effigy of the ten headed demon King Raven at sunset followed by a spectacular firework display to end the event.
