The best ways to celebrate Diwali at home

The famous Neasden Temple, also known as BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, is helping the community celebrate Diwali with their first-ever #DiwaliAtHome. To ensure no one misses out, they are hosting a variety of online events in what will be a truly unique Diwali experience. To join them and find out more, click here.

Have you seen our home borough of Brent’s super helpful guide to marking the occasion safely? If you’re looking for inspiration or unsure on how to celebrate, they’re definitely worth checking out:

• Make a card for loved ones and post it or surprise them with a phone call
• Cook up a feast for those in your household or support bubble
• Organise a video call with your family and friends to share well wishes, or just catch up
• Decorate your home with bunting, fairy lights, garlands and rangoli decorations
• Share kindness – donate to a local food bank, light a diya in memory of someone or write a letter to residents of a local care home

If the lockdown means you’re taking charge of your own Diwali feast this year, making sure you check out these online cookery classes. Internet culinary specialist, Diaspo, will be streaming free classes and workshops to help you create tasty traditional dishes, as well as sharing generational recipes. They will also be hosting rangoli workshops - another thing you can add to your list of lockdown hobbies. Find out more and sign up here.

Nothing screams celebration quite like sugary goodies and Diwali is no exception. Take a look at this incredible Diwali Diya shaped sugar cookies recipes that will have your family in the party spirit.

Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, and who couldn’t use a little extra light right now? Brent-based Hindi community group Diu Kadia Nyati Samaj are hoping to light up your homes via Facebook with some unmissable music and dance performances. Paired with some incredible goodies and candles, it sounds like your Saturday is sorted. Find out more here.

Head over to Brent’s Indian Association online and engage with Brent’s rich Indian heritage with their series of free courses and workshops. From ladies religious groups to meet & greets for senior men, meditation or Yoga courses, to Bollywood dance classes for children and adults, their variety of topics and subjects means there is something for the whole family. Check them all out here.