Diwali 2015: The pageant of lights, in footage

The festival of lights was held on Wednesday and up to 900 people attended the Hindu Temple on West Road in Newcastle to mark the day.

Diwali, or Deepavali, is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains worldwide, and in Woking a procession of more than 200 handcrafted lanterns paraded through the town to live south Indian music. Legend says millions of lamps were lit when he returned.

Rajesh Prasad said Diwali celebrated the rescue of Lord Rama’s wife Sita from the demon king Ravanna in the 15th century BC, and their subsequent return to their kingdom in northern India.

“Light to me means joy, happiness, understanding and particularly understanding your people and [understanding] between people”, Cllr McCrum said to an audience of more than 350 people. “This festival marks the start of the New Year and everyone prays for a prosperous year ahead with the blessings of Lakshmi”. The bursting of fireworks is par for the course and forms an integral part of Diwali celebrations both in India and around the world. Although the five days of the Diwali celebration ended last night, Friday, November 13, tonight’s event aims to give students who celebrate Diwali a fun, communal space in which to do so, while also serving as informational for students who are curious about the holiday. It’s one of the biggest festivals in the Hindu faith, similar to Christmas.