Diwali in Birmingham 2023: how the festival of light celebrations have lit up the city

After weeks of celebrations, Diwali 2023 is officially this weekend.

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. 

It’s a five-day festival with Diwali commencing on November 10, with the main celebration falling on November 12. A number of Diwali events have already taken place in Birmingham over the last few weeks as those in the city and across the region celebrate the festival with community events in Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell.

On the last weekend of October, the whole of Soho Road, Handsworth lit up as one of the biggest Diwali celebrations came to the town: the Premier Diwali Mela. Thousands gathered in the neighbourhood to enjoy fun rides, food stalls, and live entertainment as the Diwali lights were switched on.

The festival was headlined by Jaswinder Singh Bains, better known by his stage name Jazzy B - a Canadian Punjabi singer and songwriter. Performers at the mela also included Dr Zeus, Legha, Steven Sahota and USR.

Elsewhere, there was a vibrant array of events, cultural showcases, and community engagements across the region, highlighted by the attendance of Bollywood icon Preity G Zinta in Birmingham last week (November 5 and 6).

The acclaimed actress was joined by Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands last weekend in conjunction with the Consulate General of India.

The festivities commenced on Saturday with a visit by the Mayor and Preity G Zinta to the Digbeth neighbourhood , home to Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight’s new Digbeth Loc film studios, the Creative Content Hub at The Bond and a host of film and media schools.

A gala dinner held at Millennium Point on the same evening became the pinnacle of the celebrations, hosting over 100 guests, including business leaders, political dignitaries, and special invitees from the UK, India, and the global Indian diaspora. The headline guests partook in lighting divas and engaged in a Q&A session, where Preity shared her personal journey to stardom. The audience also heard how the 48-year-old actress is to receive an honorary degree from Birmingham City University (BCU) in India next year.

Fans were also treated to a cultural program at Birmingham Town Hall, offering the public an opportunity to meet and greet Preity G Zinta.

What's been said about this year's celebrations?

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “This year’s Diwali celebrations were a resounding success with the joyous participation of our vibrant communities on full display for the Festival of Lights.

“From the afternoon tour of Digbeth Loc with Bollywood superstar Preity G Zinta to the evening gala dinner at Millennium Point to the cultural programme at Birmingham Town Hall, the unity and enthusiasm showcased over the weekend truly encapsulated the richness of our region's cultural heritage.

“I look forward to future festivities and hope the opportunity to showcase our creative strengths to a leading lady of Bollywood leads to new partnerships in the months and years ahead.”