Sweet treats, music and dance at Diwali Middlesbrough

Diwali, an ancient festival celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, symbolises the victory of light over darkness. The timing of Middlesbrough’s first Diwali festival in October 2020 felt particularly important. Kash said, “It was quite poignant in the sense we were seeing the light as we came out of the pandemic.”

This year’s Diwali will be held in Middlesbrough Centre Square on 25th October 2025 between midday and 6pm. The event, which is supported by funding made possible by National Lottery players, is completely free and culminates with a Bollywood-style fireworks finale.

Kash, who also organises Diwali events in London and Luton, said the scarcity of events aimed at Middlesbrough’s south-east Asian community inspired his decision to stage the festival in the North Yorkshire town. He said, “Often you find people of south-east Asian descent don’t go to concerts or events. This gives them the chance to access something on their doorstep.”

Diwali, of course, is a celebration that’s open to everyone. Kash said, “It’s basically a family-friendly event with a main stage featuring local, national and international performers, a fun fair, lots of children’s activities and a huge bazaar.”

Food plays an important part in Diwali and there will be all sorts of vegetarian treats on offer. Jalebi, an orange, spiral-shaped sweet, is particularly popular during the festival as well as Barfi, a rich, creamy fudge-like Indian dessert. Kash also recommends Gulab Jamun, fried dumplings scented with cardamom and steeped in rose and saffron syrup.

Middlesbrough Diwali is also an opportunity to sample Garba, a traditional form of Gujarati folk dance and song. Kash said, “We always aim for a bit of audience participation to get people in the mood. The dancers will be in full costume so it’s incredibly colourful.”

National Lottery funding plays a crucial role in allowing events such as Middlesbrough Diwali to bring communities together. Kash said, “Without the support of The National Lottery the kind of arts and cultural events that I produce could not go ahead. It plays a crucial part in making things like Diwali Middlesbrough a reality.”

Kash believes it’s never been more important to celebrate this ancient festival. He said, “Diwali dates back hundreds of thousands of years and it’s all about the triumph of love over hate, light over darkness. I think it’s more important than ever that festivals like this are celebrated across all cultures.”

6th October 2025