Diwali in Birmingham 2022: Victoria Square celebrations & other Diwali events times, tickets & more

Hundreds of people gathered in Handsworth on Sunday night (October 9) as the Diwali lights were switched on - but don’t worry if you didn’t make it, there are many more opportunities to celebrate the festival of lights in Birmingham.

The festivities for this hugley popular tradition has been scaled back over the last couple of years due to the coronavirus pandemic, but 2022 sees the return of many Diwali activities which have attracted thousands of celebrants in previous years.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the major events celebrated by faiths throughout the Indian community to mark different historical events and stories but with all of them symbolising the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. The five -day event officially begins on Saturday, 22 October 2022, with Dhanteras but the main day is on Monday 24 October.

It is celebrated by lighting lamps and candles in doors and windows of the home, around temples and other buildings, along with fireworks. A number of events are taking place in the run up to Diwali.

What’s happening at Diwali on the Square in Victoria Square in Birmingham city centre and who is performing?

One of Birmingham’s primary events to celebrate the festival - Diwali on the Square in Victoria Square - didn’t take place last year due to Covid, but this year it will be going ahead.

With singing, dancing, live performers, delicious food and more Diwali on the Square is sure to be fun for all the family. The event will be headlined by Punjabi singer, songwriter and rapper Garry Sandhu. The line-up will also include musician Hemant Patel and a host of dance groups including the Bollywood Dreams Dance Company, India Island Academy, Chitraleka, and Gabhru Punjab De.

There will be authentic Indian food supplied by the region’s best restaurants, plus Mehndi artists, face painting, kite making and many other stalls and activities.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street will be joined by the Consul General of India, Dr Shashank Vikram, when he speaks to the crowd at midday.

On the day there will be speeches from Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street and The Consul General of India, Dr Shashank Vikram. There will of course be stalls with traditional Indian food and git stalls as well as music.

What time does it start and do I need to book tickets for the event?

Diwali on the Square will take place this Saturday, 15 October. It gets underway at 11am and run until around 4pm. You don’t need a ticket to attend the event.

What have the organisers said about this year’s event?

The event is sponsored this year by University College Birmingham, Birmingham Airport, Air India, HSBC UK, Asha’s, East End Foods, Enzen and Lioncroft Wholesale.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “After Covid interrupted our annual ‘Diwali on the Square’ in person celebrations, I’m so pleased that - after a two year hiatus – we will be back in Victoria Square in Birmingham on the 15th October for a wonderful festival of food, culture and fun for all the family. It’s a moment for communities to come together and I’m looking forward to enjoying the day out with fellow local residents.”

Consul General Dr Shashank Vikram added: “I hope this will help in bringing communities together and celebrate the spirit of Diwali which signifies the victory of light over darkness. We hope the families and children will have a fun filled day. See you all in Victoria Square on Saturday. Happy Diwali.”

Prof. Michael Harkin, vice-chancellor and principal for University College Birmingham, said: “We have many students from across India and South Asia that are looking forward to celebrating the Festival of Lights with us here in Birmingham.

“Diwali on the Square is right on our doorstep and with our close connections to the community and partnership with the Consulate General of India and Mayor of West Midlands, we are delighted to be sponsoring and supporting this wonderful event. In the lead-up to this time of hope and celebration, we would like to wish everyone a prosperous year full of good light.”

What other Diwali events are taking place?

There are a number of Diwali events taking place in and around Birmingham this year. Here is a list:

Sharing the Light – Welcome Diwali, Bullring & Grand Central

A large-scale outdoor participatory performance event taking place across Friday 21 and Saturday 22 October at Bullring & Grand Central, co-produced by Sonia Sabri Company and German Puppeteers Dundu – The Giants of Light.

From 6.30pm on Friday 21 October and Saturday 22 October, visitors to Bullring & Grand Central will be greeted by dhol drummers and dance performances and will have their first interactive introduction to Dundu’s breath-taking light puppets at St Martin’s Square.

Processing to and from Rotunda Square, via a colourful installation of hundreds of Diwali lanterns created by local school groups, they will be joined by community groups for a mass dance event – a short dance routine created by Sonia Sabri Dance Company, inspired by South Asian Dance forms, which will be digitally distributed in advance so that participants on the night can learn the dance in advance and join in. The event will culminate with a firework finale to welcome the annual Diwali celebrations.

Jaivant Patel Dance: Deepavali, The Festival of Light

Jaivant Patel Dance and Midlands Arts Centre present Deepavali, The Festival of Light - is a tribute to the late, great Lata Mangeshkar at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham.

Associate Artist, Jaivant Patel Dance once again brings you Deepavali, The Festival of Light; a captivating evening of South Asian Dance showcasing Bollywood, Kathak, Bharatanatyam to Bhangara and Dandiya Raas, in celebration of Deepavali also more commonly known as Diwali. This family-friendly performance features some of the best British South Asian Dance artists, companies, and community groups from the West Midlands and across the UK. The event takes place on Saturday 29 October. Tickets cost £9. Get tickets, here.

Diwali Afternoon Tea

Diwali afternoon tea will also be taking place at the festival to celebrate at 11am on Tuesday, 25th October at the Nishkam Centre on Soho Road. Click here to read more about the event.

Old Skool Diwali Daytimer

On Saturday 29 October, PRYZM in Birmingham, are hosting a Diwali Bhangra Daytimer.

The ‘Old Skool Daytimer’ will be a throwback event heralding the major impact Bhangra music and live gigs made in the UK and overseas. The event will feature those artists who were part of the soundtrack of the 80s and 90s when Bhangra music came to the fore as the music and traditions of Punjabi folk culture was brought alive at some of the iconic nightclubs and venues across the UK.

Tickets cost £21.61 and are available here.

Neon Diwali Disco

A disco fusion of Bhangra, Bollywood and Neon Projections will celebrate the festival at the Core Theatre in Solihull on Saturday, 29 October. Tickets for the event cost £3.89. You can purchase here.

Diwali Dance Workshop with Sohan Kailey

You can have fun, get active and learn about the Diwali story through a fusion of Bhangra and Bollywood dance. The event takes place at the Core Theatre in Solihull on Saturday, 29 October. Visit the website here for more information.

Black & Asian Police Association Diwali & Bandi Chhor Divas Celebrations

On Thursday, October 27, the West Midlands Police Black and Asian Police Association (BAPA) are inviting people to celebrate Diwali 2022 at the West Midlands Police Head Quarters between 5pm and 6.30pm. Find out more about the event, here.

Why is Diwali celebrated?

Diwali is a five -day event beginning on Saturday 22 October 2022, with Dhanteras but the main day is on Monday 24 October.

The five day festival of lights begin from late October:

• 22 October 2022: Dhanteras
• 23 October 2022: Naraka Chaturdashi, also known as Choti Diwali
• 24 October 2022: Diwali
• 25 October 2022: Govardhan Puja, also known as Gudi Padwa
• 26 October 2022: Bhai Dooj

Diwali takes place on the darkest night on the Hindu lunar calendar, during the month Kartika, which falls in between mid October - November in the Gregorian calendar. This festival also marks the last harvest before winter.

One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

The festival’s date changes each year because the Hindu calendar is based on the lunar and solar cycles, but it always falls on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartik.

In the lead-up to Diwali, celebrants will prepare by cleaning, renovating, and decorating their homes and workplaces with diyas (oil lamps). During Diwali, people wear their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with diyas and rangoli, perform worship ceremonies of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth, light fireworks, and partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared. There will also be many community parades in Birmingham.

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