Join the Diwali Light Parade
Save the date for this year’s Festival of Lights celebration in Aylesbury!
We invite you to join us on Sunday 30 October 2022 for an energising community celebration. Can I tempt you with energising music, Bollywood Dancing, Dhol drumming and a lantern parade? All of this will be taking place in the walled gardens of the Discover Bucks Museum in Aylesbury.
What is Diwali?
Diwali is an uplifting festival that has been celebrated for over 2,500 years. It is a five-day event in which families, friends and communities come together to eat, dance, pray, exchange gifts and share joy. The exact date changes each year, however, it always falls in October or November.
Diwali is also known as the Festival of Light, as one of the traditions is for families to light lamps to symbolise the victory of inner light over darkness. Across India, small clay and oil lamps, called diyas are lit as darkness falls. The lights honour Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and good fortune. The event marks the start of the Hindu New Year.
Festival of Lights Celebration in Aylesbury
Holy Cow Community wants everyone to get involved in the enriching experience of joining together in colour and light. For this reason, we’ve been organising and hosting the Aylesbury Festival of Lights since 2017. This has only been possible due to generous community partners, spectacular performers, volunteers and sponsors.
This year, the Holy Cow Community Trust board ; Poonam, Julia and Vicky welcome new member Prashy, who previously took a lead role in the 2020 virtual event.
Find out more about volunteering or sponsoring the event.
We are organising a smaller event this year and you are invited. No matter what your spiritual beliefs, age or background, come and take part.
Are you ready to feel the rousing beat of the Dhol drums, learn dance moves from a Bollywood choreographer or have your hand decorated with intricate henna designs?
Lantern Making Workshop
Diwali is a time when people express their creative talents. In addition to music, dance and Henna painting there are crafts. As an example, beautiful rangoli pictures are formed from coloured rice, spices and flower petals to welcome people into homes.
If you love to get creative, we have a wonderful workshop for you to participate in; lantern making from willow. This workshop will run on Saturday 1 October 2022 and also takes place at the Discover Bucks Museum in Aylesbury.
The workshop will be led by Festive Road, a team experienced in creating props and pieces for carnival parades. They will provide the materials and show you how to make a lantern. Spaces are free but limited, so get booking!
Find out more & book on the Willow Lantern Workshop
The lanterns will be on display at the museum in Aylesbury through October. Those who created them will then carry them in our Festival of Light parade from 4.30-5.00pm on Sunday 30 October 2022. So, sign up for the workshop if you can also commit to joining our celebration. After our parade, makers are welcome to take the lanterns and adorn their homes with them.
Not One, but Two Buckinghamshire Light Themed Parades
We are delighted that the Milton Keynes City of Codes & Lights Festival has asked to feature the lanterns in their parade on the evening of Saturday 8 October. As we cannot participate this year we still wish to share details of this annual event in Milton Keynes for you to be able to visit and we will be there in 2023,
Get this Community Event in your Diary
As the days draw in and the air takes on an autumnal feel, it’s wonderful to have some plans in the diary. Make sure yours includes Sunday 30 October 2022!
As the final plans come together, we’ll share details on the Holy Cow Community Facebook page.
Shubh Deepavali – Wishing you a prosperous Diwali.
