Extensive Diwali Festivities Planned Across Surrey and Sussex

Across Surrey, West Sussex, and East Sussex, various events, such as film screenings, are scheduled to mark Diwali. This Hindu festival of lights represents the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.” Its date is determined by the lunar cycle; while Diwali occurs on October 31 this year, some locations, including Burwash, will hold their primary festivities on Friday. The observances for Diwali can span a period of five or six days. Mandira’s Kitchen, a small enterprise situated in Albury, near Guildford, Surrey, will observe Diwali on Thursday. This will occur during one of its regular monthly supper clubs, which operates as a ticketed, temporary pop-up restaurant offering a specially themed menu. The event will feature musical performances by Wild Tabla, an Indian percussionist, alongside dancing and conversations centered on Diwali. Mandira commented: “It’ll be quite a spectacle I think, and I think overlooking the ponds with lights and everything, it will look very beautiful.” Bateman’s, a National Trust property located in Burwash, East Sussex, is scheduled to host Diwali celebrations from Friday through Sunday. The National Trust indicates that the house will be adorned with twinkling lights and handcrafted paper lotus flowers. Operating daily from 11:00 to 15:30 GMT, the venue will also screen a new short film, which presents a condensed rendition of the Ramayana, an Indian narrative fundamental to Diwali. The Ramayana recounts the epic journey of Prince Rama as he endeavors to rescue his cherished wife, Sita, aided by an army of monkeys. For updates, follow BBC Surrey on Facebook and X. Story submissions can be sent to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 08081 002250. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.