Leicester’s Golden Mile will remain the focal point for Diwali Day celebrations, but the event will see significant changes this year due to growing concerns over public safety.
The city’s Diwali safety advisory group — which includes Leicester City Council, Leicestershire Police, NHS representatives, East Midlands Ambulance Service, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue, and crowd safety experts — has raised serious concerns over the event’s capacity to safely manage the tens of thousands of people it now attracts. Last year’s Diwali celebration drew estimated crowds of up to 50,000.
Picture credit: Pukaar News
After reviewing various alternatives — including moving the event to Abbey Park, the city centre, or Melton Road — the decision has been made to keep the celebration on Belgrave Road, where it has taken place for over 40 years. However, substantial changes will be implemented to ensure public safety.
Key changes include:
- Belgrave Road will be closed to all traffic on Diwali Day evening to allow families to gather and celebrate more safely.
- There will be no stage entertainment or fireworks display this year.
- Cossington Street Recreation Ground will no longer be used as part of the event.
- The festive illuminations and the popular Wheel of Light will still be installed along Belgrave Road.
The changes are designed to reduce overcrowding and create more space for visitors to enjoy the festival safely, while preserving the atmosphere and traditions of the Golden Mile.
Graham Callister, the city council’s head of festivals and events, said the growing popularity of Diwali has led to concerns from emergency services and security partners about the ability to manage such large, unregulated crowds. Scaling back event infrastructure is expected to reduce congestion and improve crowd safety.
Cllr Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for culture, acknowledged the disappointment but emphasised the need for caution: “Leicester’s Diwali festival has become a victim of its own success. The advice from safety experts is clear — without changes, the event poses a significant public safety risk. We must take that seriously if we want it to continue.”
The revised approach was agreed in a meeting between City Mayor Peter Soulsby, Cllr Dempster, representatives from the Leicester Hindu Festival Council, Belgrave Business Association, local Jain and Sikh communities, ward councillors, and safety advisors.
The city council says it will continue working with the safety group and community representatives to explore future improvements that maintain both tradition and safety.
