A Hindu family celebrates Diwali

"God gives me the strength to continue to please my friends and family"

Thousands of families of the Hindu, Jain and Sikh faiths across Leicester and Leicestershire celebrated Diwali on Saturday 17 October 2009.

Leicester's Golden Mile on Belgrave Road sparkled with thousands of Diwali lights, which were switched-on on 4 October 2009, for the big day itself.

Diwali is a time for preparation and a time of great excitement and joy.

The Raichura family from the city look forward to their Diwali celebrations every year.

This year Pravin with his wife and two daughters decorated their house with 40 candles and lots of Diwali cards.

Nisha, Pravin's daughter, believes sending and receiving cards is part of the festive celebrations.

"It's not a relatively new custom. It's an established one, just like Christmas.

"The message on the cards is very much about health, wealth, happiness and wishing people joy over Diwali.

"I always look forward to Diwali, especially when I was younger because I could specify the presents I wanted.

"I remember one Diwali I demanded a tricycle and a play swing from my parents. But I have other siblings too, so they would have to get them the presents they wanted."

Priti, Pravin's other daughter, helped her mother - for the first time - to make savoury sweets for the special occasion.

"We've got bombay mix, something that look like poppadoms - but they're not because they are made in a slightly different way - and a type of sweet.

Some of these foods are especially made during Diwali as a treat Priti Raichura from Leicester

"Some of these foods are especially made during Diwali as a treat."

Many Hindus visit temples on Diwali to be blessed. Priti went to a Mandir in Leicester to pray for a good future.

"I hope the next year is going to be a fulfilling one and hope we can all live in harmony.

I hope God can give me the strength to continue to please my friends and family.

"So I'm hoping for a fresh start to a new year."

Pravin believes, "Diwali is a day full of love and forgiveness."

For the rest of the Raichura family it is an important time of the year because the festival brings family and friends together and everyone is blessed for the future.