Socially distanced Diwali celebrated in UK under lockdown

Britain’s Hindus, Jains and Sikhs are celebrating their first ever virtual Diwali on Saturday, as the Covid lockdown has forced the cancellation of almost all normal festivities.  

Despite the usual gatherings of friends and families being impossible because of the pandemic, numerous councils and temples across the UK have instead taken the celebrations online, hosting video streams for the faithful to tune in.  

In Leicester, the city council has encouraged locals to send in video messages which will be broadcast as part of its entertainment, as well as a video of last year’s fireworks display, music and dancing.  

Normally the city’s Golden Mile – the centre of its vibrant South Asian community – would be host to as many as 50,000 people during two days of light shows, mountains of food, and buying gifts.  

Dharmesh Lakhani, a local restaurant owner, said the whole city would usually join in the festivities, making it the most important period of the year.  

“This festival is like our Christmas. So this is our Christmas gone,” he told the BBC.   

The West Midlands Combined Authority has collaborated with the Indian consulate to host ‘Diwali on the Screen’, which featured traditional singing and dancing from local performers.

London’s main Diwali celebration normally takes place in Trafalgar Square, but this year was forced to also go online.  

But the event’s organiser, Sister Jayanti, said the message behind the festival could still be heard despite the muted celebrations.  

“This Diwali is going to be very different from all the others we have ever experienced. Yet I'm sure the spirit of Diwali will definitely be well and strong.

"Diwali is the celebration of light and so, coming at a time of darkness, when there seem to be many sad stories of bereavement, sickness and financial hardship all caused by a virus, we need to ensure that our inner light stays ignited."

One of the most popular religious festivals in Britain, Diwali originated as a Hindu event marking the return of the god Lord Rama and his wife Sita to their home in northern India after 13 years in exile.  

Hindus celebrate the day, which this year falls on Saturday 14 November, as a time to renew their faith and rejoice that light has won over darkness and good defeated evil.  

Sikhs meanwhile celebrate at the same time in memory of the day when the sixth guru Sri Guru Hargobind Ji was released from imprisonment under one of India’s Mughal emperors.  

Similar rituals of lighting lamps are also carried out by Jains, for whom Diwali marks the anniversary of the ultimate salvation of the soul of Mahavira, a highly influential ascetic preacher of Jainism from the 6th century BC.  

The chancellor of the exchequer, Rishi Sunak – himself a practising Hindu – lit oil lamps on the front steps of his home at No 11 Downing Street on Thursday ahead of Diwali.  

“For us as Hindus, Diwali is special, and it’s going to be difficult this year,” Mr Sunak told the BBC.   

“But we’ve got Zoom, we’ve got the phone, and most importantly, we’ve got each other. Whether you can see someone or not the bond of family, that bond of love is always going to be there.

“We’ll have lots of happy times afterwards. But to keep everyone safe right now, just follow the rules.”  

The Neasden Temple, the largest Hindu place of worship in Europe, said it had moved all its religious services online, encouraging the faithful to follow along with its priests in their home shrines as they broadcast the traditional rituals via the internet.  

Jaydev Vyas from the temple told the Religion Media Centre: “Diwali is the festival of lights. We all need light. This year is going to be virtual so we won’t be able to get together and have a party or exchange sweets. Nothing like that is going to happen. Even places of worship like temples are closed. We will miss the family get-togethers.”