CND'S BRUCE VISITS CITY

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Bruce Kent, left, with supporters Rama Gupta, of Loughborough, and Liz Brandon, right

CND's Bruce visits city

Anti-nuclear weapons campaigner Bruce Kent called for Britain to ditch its submarine-based deterrent as part of a "scrap Trident missile tour".

Mr Kent said it was immoral to consider embarking on replacing the missiles when so many people across Britain were being hit by savage cuts in social welfare.

Speaking after a prayer meeting at the Bishop Street Methodist church, Mr Kent, who is vice-president of national CND, said: "It seems to me that we, as a country, are moving towards replacing, at vast expense, our Trident submarines and their murderous missiles and warheads.

"The total cost of this would be over £100 billion."

He said the crisis with North Korea demonstrated the futility of nuclear weapons.

He said: "It's hypocrisy to say we can have them but they can't."

Mr Kent is visiting 22 towns and cities in England.

He arrived in the city at the Gandhi statue, near the flyover in Belgrave Road, and was later greeted by city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, at the Town Hall.

He also attended a lecture at De Montfort University, and a public meeting at St Phillip's church hall in Evington Road and gave a talk to students at Countesthorpe College.

OUR DIVERSE CITY SHOWN IN PICTURES

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Our diverse city shown in pictures

A photography exhibition exploring Leicester's diversity is taking place at an unusual venue – shop windows across the city.

Dozens of pictures will be on display at 20 shops in Belgrave, Highfields and Spinney Hills as part of the From Here and There exhibition until December 16.

Artworks are also on show in the street and at community spaces in the city.

The display looks at Leicester's cultural diversity, our notions of Britishness and also commemorates the 40th anniversary of thousands of Asians moving to Leicester after being expelled from Uganda.

It also marks this year's Olympic Games.

It is a collaboration between Leicester artist Ashok Mistry and award-winning Indian photographer Pablo Bartholomew.

Ashok said: "The exhibition is about celebration and the communities we have in Leicester, the way they co-operate and flourish."

He said it was also about looking at plurality, as Leicester is expected to be one of Britain's first plural cities, where there is no clear ethnic majority group.

Ashok said the pictures were being displayed in shop windows and on the street as the display was aimed at people not normally catered for in galleries.

Pablo, who is based in New Delhi, said the idea of the exhibition was "to bring out something on the streets".

He said that spreading the posters throughout Leicester was a "great way to communicate with different types of audience" and also "different areas of Leicester.

One of the shops which is displaying photographs as part of the exhibition is Milan's, in Belgrave Road.

Manager Kishor Chauhan said the shop took part in the exhibition "because it sounded very interesting".

A celebration event to mark the exhibition will take place tonight from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Chennai Dosa, in Belgrave Road, Leicester.

For the full art trail and more details about the exhibition, visit the website: http://fromhereandthere.info

BRILLIANT DIWALI!

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Brilliant Diwali!

Thirty thousand people packed the Golden Mile for the Diwali Day celebrations on Tuesday night.

Visitors from all over the world joined families from closer to home in a celebration of the festival of lights, marking, for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, the triumph of good over evil and the start of a new year.

Belgrave Road was closed to traffic for more than three hours while the street party went ahead.

In Cossington recreation ground, a lively show, featured classical Indian, Bollywood and bhangra dancers.

Sanjay Hadapi, 39, from Mumbai, who is in the UK for a cricket coaching course, said: "It's the first time I have experienced Diwali celebrations in the UK.

"I am amazed by the number of people.

"It is also very big in India where it is a national holiday, but I didn't know something of this size happened outside India."

Friend Bhavin Patel, 34, of Loughborough, said: "It is the most important day of the year.

"It's a time when everyone gets together, has a good time and eats too much food."

Wassila Maafi, of Aylestone, Leicester, said: "I think it's lovely entertainment. I wish they had more of this type of event in Leicester.

"It's a good, entertaining event for the family and it's good to see different cultures being celebrated."

Mahendra Mistry, 52, of Scraptoft Lane, Leicester, said; "It's a new year, new beginnings. It's a brilliant event, you can't move. It's nice to see so many young people here."

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "Leicester has been famous for its Diwali celebrations, which are the largest outside India and which the city council is happy to support."

Police said the night passed without major problems.

Speaking on the day, Chief Inspector Martyn Ball said: "Our estimate is that there are 30,000 people here, but we haven't had to deal with a single incident – it's a fun, family-oriented event and everybody is happy."

The celebrations, which are run by Leicester City Council and Leicester Hindu Festival Council, finished with a spectacular firework display which drew gasps of admiration from the crowds.

DEVOTEES CELEBRATE TEMPLE OPENING

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Devotees celebrate temple opening

Worshippers have celebrated the consecration of a temple.

A procession of dancing, singing and praying Hindus made its way along Belgrave Road, Leicester, to the Vrajdham temple, in Loughborough Road, while scores more watched.

The temple is dedicated to Srinathji, the deity worshipped by the Pushtimarg sect.

Dwarkesh Laljee, a descendant of the sect's founder, who had travelled from India to bless the building, performed the opening ceremony. He travelled along Belgrave Road in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by devotees, drummers and singers.

The temple was a place of worship which had fallen into disrepair and not been used for over two years.

Temple spokesman Ashok Thakker said: "This is an historic landmark.

"From what was a fairly dilapidated building centre it has mushroomed into what we see now."

Mahendra Lakhani, from Rushey Mead, and brother Bupendra, who had travelled from Cambridgeshire, for the event watched the procession.

Mahendra said: "For us, it's a special occasion we shouldn't miss. It's a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

"I used to travel to India once a year to visit the shrine of Shrinathji so I am so pleased we will now have this temple."

Jayaradhe Dasi, 53, of Rushey Mead said: "We have come to show our love and devotion for God and to receive spiritual blessings."

THOUSANDS FLOCK TO LEICESTER'S GOLDEN MILE FOR DIWALI FIREWORKS

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Thousands flock to Leicester's Golden Mile for Diwali fireworks 

Leicester's Golden Mile was alive with colour and excitement as thousands of people celebrated Diwali last night. 

Revellers packed Belgrave Road and Cossington Street recreation ground to enjoy drumming, dancing and an impressive firework and laser display. 

People travelled from all over to join in the celebrations. 

Heena Pathak, 44, of Rushey Mead, went along with husband Nitin, with both keen to see the fireworks. 

Heena said: "Even though I'm local, I've never come out in Leicester for Diwali, but this year instead of sitting at home we wanted to join in with the spirit of things. 

"We've celebrated at home with family, but we wanted to come here and be around lots of people and enjoy some food and drink." 

Jatinder and Nitin Patel, who live in Walsall, were returning to Leicester 20 years after they met as university students. 

Nitin, 40, said: "We wanted to come back and share this with our children so they learn a bit more about their culture and heritage because there's nothing like this where we live." 

Neelam Patel, 18, from Thorpe Astley, was celebrating with her 12-year-old sister Naomi and four-year-old brother Drew. 

She said: "I really like coming here to socialise and see the fireworks. 

"For me Diwali is about eating lots of yummy food, getting together with family and buying presents – it's just like Christmas." 

Suresh Sida, 43, who lives near Hinckley Road in Leicester, said: "It's great to come down and meet up with people and spend time with the family. 

"We've got friends coming here from Northampton because Leicester does Diwali so well." 

Councillor Piara Clair, chair of the city council's Diwali working party, said: "I am delighted we can share our Diwali day celebrations with people from far and wide as well as with many different communities right across the city." 

The Diwali events were organised by the city council and the Leicester Hindu Festival Council and sponsored by 02 for the first time this year. 

At Curve theatre, the festival was celebrated with an exhibition of vibrant sarees. 

The display of intricate garments was curated by family-run Belgrave Road business Anokhi House of Sarees. 

Set against a display of light projections, it shows how the colours and style of the saree has changed from 2,000 BC to today. 

Shop manager Karan Modha said: "I'm absolutely overwhelmed by the interest and very grateful for the opportunity to display our designs. 

"The beauty of the garment is that it fits everyone, and no matter who you are, when you wear it you feel like a million bucks. It's a piece of art."

HARE KRISHNA FESTIVAL OF CHARIOTS ATTRACTS THOUSANDS TO LEICESTER CITY CENTRE

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Hare Krishna Festival of Chariots attracts thousands to Leicester city centre

Thousands of devotees pulled three 30ft chariots through the streets of Leicester yesterday in celebration of a 5,000-year-old festival.

Colourful flags and lively rhythms led the 14th annual Hare Krishna Festival of Chariots from Humberstone Gate, in the city centre, to Cossington Park, in Belgrave.

The event was staged by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Organiser Nimai Devi Dasi said: "Today is about getting the chance to show other people what we're about. It's a nice, jovial time and we're not restricted to the temple, which means we can get a lot more people involved – people who may not have come across us before.

"The Jagannatha Ratha Yatra is a celebration more than 5,000 years old, making it the oldest street festival in the world.

"Devotees believe that if they get the honour of pulling the ropes of the giant chariot, carrying Lord Krishna then at the end of this life, they will be granted a place in the spiritual world."

The procession featured three huge chariots, which carried deities Lord Jagannatha (Krishna), Lady Subhadra and Lord Balarama.

Participants pulled the giant floats to Cossington Park, where more than 9,000 people were entertained with live music, dancing and singing. 

Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby took part in the ceremony, sweeping the procession route as a sign of humility and service to the people.

He also joined the procession as it slowly made its way along Belgrave Road, helping to pull the giant chariots for part of the way.

He said: "It's the first time as city mayor that I've taken part in the event, which I've seen grow and flourish over the years.

"It's an important part of our cultural heritage and brings life and colour to the city."

The parade was filled with music and singing as it snaked its way through the city centre and along Belgrave Road.

Ramesh Yadav, 32, was keeping the rhythm of the march.

The drummer, from St Matthews, said: "It's an occasion where Lord Krishna can come out and look at everyone.

"The big eyes on the statue (on the chariot) show that he is looking out at everyone and looking into your heart."

Sandeep Patel, 29, from Oadby, said: "Just to experience the whole day is fantastic – there's thousands of people coming together from all backgrounds.

"It's a celebration for us, but everyone is welcome to join in."

Steve Shaw, 31, had travelled from Chorley, in Lancashire, to be at yesterday's festival.

He said: "Today is about celebrating the joy of life, everybody has to get involved by helping with the chariot – it's like pulling the Lord into our hearts."

BIFFY (1)

Playing host today to a visit from members of BIFFY (Blackpool Inter-Faith Forum for Youth). This is a group of a dozen girls (aged 12-15) with three support workers, who've been active in Blackpool for the past few years, raising awareness of different faiths, challenging prejudice and embracing diversity. They've been given some funding for a weekend away and they've chosen to come to Leicester! Anna Elgee, in charge of the group, phoned me about a week ago and asked if I could organise some visits and activities for them while they're here.

The group arrives by train early afternoon; I meet them at the Premier Inn at 1430 and lead them down into the city centre. Our first stop is at the Dark Side cafe, in Cank Street, a popular spot with some of Leicester's Pagans, Wiccans, Goths and Emos. I ask Lucie Belikova, the manager there, to say a little bit to the group about who uses the place and what goes on there. They've recently renovated the cellar, which they're intending to use for writing events, live music and so on, so we nip downstairs for a quick look.

Next we pop into the Cathedral, where the pledge to stand together against extremism, signed by followers of different faiths (and those who follow none) is on display.

Then, to the Nagarjuna Buddhist Centre, where they are treated to a drink and some cake, as well as a short meditation session and talk from Chogma, Education Officer at the Centre. During a brief Q&A, Chogma says that the day she put her hair-straighteners in the bin was the greatest moment of liberation she'd felt in her life.

From there, we head out to Belgrave Road. The girls want to buy saris, jewellery and other Indian regalia. The evening concludes with a meal together in Sokani's vegetarian restaurant.