Efforts to introduce extra activities to this year’s Diwali Day celebrations on Leicester’s Belgrave Road have been turned down by the city’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which is responsible for assessing the safety and viability of public events.
Leicester City Council has confirmed that Belgrave Road—famously known as the Golden Mile—will be closed to traffic on Sunday, 20 October, to allow visitors to enjoy the Diwali lights, dine at local restaurants, shop, and celebrate the festival with their families in a safe, pedestrian-friendly environment. The much-loved Wheel of Light will also make its return, adding to the festive atmosphere.
However, key elements traditionally associated with the Diwali celebrations—such as the stage performances, Diwali Village, and fireworks display—will not take place this year. This decision follows concerns raised by the SAG after last year’s event drew an estimated crowd of around 50,000 people, placing significant pressure on crowd control and emergency response planning.
In response to community disappointment over the scaled-back plans, the city council had pledged to work closely with local residents and the SAG to explore the possibility of introducing low-risk, additional activities. A number of proposals were submitted for review, with the aim of enhancing the event without compromising public safety.
Despite these efforts, the SAG—which includes representatives from Leicestershire Police, fire and rescue services, and other key emergency agencies—ultimately rejected all suggestions put forward, citing ongoing safety concerns.
Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby expressed his disappointment with the outcome: “I completely understand and share the community’s strong desire to make Diwali in Leicester as vibrant and inclusive as possible. Some of the proposals brought forward by local residents seemed reasonable and achievable to me, but the Safety Advisory Group did not agree.
“It’s disappointing that we won’t see any additional activities this year, but I remain hopeful that the SAG will reconsider its position for future celebrations.”
While the core Diwali festivities will still take place, including the iconic lights and family gatherings along the Golden Mile, many in the community are likely to feel the absence of the larger-scale features that have historically made Leicester’s Diwali one of the biggest celebrations outside India.
