Kedleston Hall: Community helps create Diwali celebration

A Derbyshire stately home is to host its largest ever celebration of Diwali - the festival of light.

Kedleston Hall's Dressing Room and Library will be lit with projections of Rangoli patterns and other traditional decorations.

Local artists and school children have helped make yard marigolds and diya lamps, both associated with Diwali.

The celebration will run from 3 to 19 November and also include performances of classical Indian dancing.

Meanwhile, the Museum of Kedleston will also display the collection of the Curzon family, who built the hall, and their close ties to south Asia.

Simran Sandhu, senior programming and partnerships officer at Kedleston Hall, said: "Diwali is the most widely celebrated festival across India, and it is the time of the year when everything looks magical.

"Kedleston is working with the local Indian community, volunteers, and staff to fashion marigolds - often used for festive occasions in India - out of vivid coloured yarn and paper.

"We will be decorating the Library, Kedleston's room of enlightenment, with hundreds of diyas made by local artist Sheena Holland.

"Local community groups and primary schools have also been involved in the effort to paint some of these diyas traditional colours of turquoise, pink, yellow and gold."

Jennie Lloyd, Kedleston's interim general manager said: "It is particularly relevant for Kedleston to include a programme in celebration of Diwali due to the links of Lord Curzon's time as Viceroy of India and the extensive South Asian collection in our care.

"Diwali, provides the perfect opportunity for us to share in those festivities and welcome everyone by bringing light and celebration to the Hall."

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