Oldham temple lights up the sky for Diwali celebrations

Oldham’s iconic temple lit up the night sky as thousands attended for Diwali celebrations.

The ‘festival of light’, which celebrates the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and light over darkness, is a major occasion in the Hindu calendar and in certain traditions makes the start of the new year.

Last week, Oldham’s Shree Swaminarayan Mandir on Copster Hill Road radiated light and several celebrations over the five-day festival.

There were also food stalls run by more than 120 volunteers of all ages who helped out with the event operations.

The party started at the temple on October 29th with Dhanteras, a day dedicated to collecting and worshipping precious metals and items.

Then on October 30th, visitors participated in Kali Chaudas, followed by an evening performant of Pooja of Hanuman who Hindus believe was Lord Rama’s loyal follower.

Following this was the centrepiece of Diwali, Lakshmi Puja, where families seek blessings from who Hindus believe is the goddess, Lakshmi, who presides over wealth and prosperity.

Finally, on November 1st, an explosive firework display shone brightly to celebrate Diwali, the day in Hindu tradition when Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.

Rounding off the celebrations was Aarti, the blessing of the deity.

Worshippers gathered to forgive the mistakes or misdeeds of others for a new year and a fresh start before offering food to Krishna in appreciation for the year’s harvest.

Visitors across the north west rallied for the celebrations, including two monks who flew from India to hold the sermons ‘Swami Laxmanprakash Dasji’ and ‘Swami Nautamuni Dasji’.

Temple trustee Anil Kara said: “Year on year our Diwali celebrations just keep getting better, a testament to our thriving community who have shown great pride and devotion to our temple.

Diwali is not just a festival of lights, but a chance for self-renewal. As we forgive past mistakes and look toward the future, each prayer and each light ignites new hope within every person in our community.”

The celebrations came as Oldham’s £7 million temple recently celebrated its 47th overall anniversary and second year since its multi-million-pound reconstruction in a new location funded by the community.

The temple is home to many activities such as mental health awareness sessions to challenging stigma in south Asian communities, as well as yoga, traditional dohl and piano classes. 

Temple vice president, Pravin Vekariya, praised volunteers in the community for offering their services and for making it a Diwali to remember.

He said: “The beauty of Diwali is in how it brings people from different walks of life and corners of the society together.

Whether it’s through the vibrance of the fireworks, the prayers of Lakshmi Puja, or the act of sharing food, we came together not just to mark the festival, but to renew our bonds and uplift one another as a community.”