Presenting a magical afternoon of traditional performances. DJ George will keep the crowd moving with his eclectic Bollywood Mix and Retro tunes to bring out the spirit of Diwali...reports Asian Lite News.
The Piece Hall is helping communities across Calderdale celebrate Diwali with a daylong festival of music, food, dance and of course light. The Festival of Lights is observed by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world.
It also coincides with harvest and new year celebrations, and marks new beginnings, the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness. The Courtyard of the Grade I-listed cultural venue will be alive with traditional Indian music and dance, alongside vegetarian food stalls, family crafts and even a meditation session. Grade I-listed building, The Piece Hall, in Halifax, is a rare and precious thing.
“Diwali is such a beautiful festival and this year more than ever it feels so important to celebrate light over darkness and new beginnings,” said Chief Executive of the Piece Hall Nicky Chance-Thompson DL. The courtyard will be alive with energy as we mark this event, that is so important to many of our communities. There’ll be delicious food, dynamic performances and some down time too, with a meditation workshop for quiet reflection. And what a backdrop The Piece Hall is for a glistening lantern display, which will finish the celebrations as night falls.”
Annapurna Indian Dance will be presenting a magical afternoon of traditional performances. DJ George will keep the crowd moving with his eclectic Bollywood Mix and Retro tunes to bring out the spirit of Diwali.
Delicious, warming Indian street food will be available from Simply Delish, Mumbai Bites, Shree Krishna Vada Pav and Kenyan Chevdo authentic Indian Bhel Puri.
A simple and accessible mindfulness session will be run by world renowned Black Lotus who are famed for their impactful meditation app and mission to create a better world for today and tomorrow. And embracing the spirit of the festival, lantern making workshops will be held suitable for the whole family.
Managing Director of HereandNow365 (Multicultural Marketing) Manish Tiwari is co-producing the event: “Diwali is an abbreviation of ‘Deep-a-vali’ which essentially means a festival of lights and marks the victory of good triumphing over evil; a mastery of human virtues over various temptations and is a reminder that we can overcome them we can become a better version of ourselves.
“The pandemic and its aftermath have left our communities saddened and hence, the festival this year is a ray of hope to usher in a New Year of love and faith. We need our communities to stand with each other and become the beacon of hope lighting up lives around us. This year, The Piece Hall will be that beacon where we not just celebrate but also ‘Light Up Lives’ collectively for all.”
The event is free to enter and takes place on Saturday 6 November 2021 between 11-5pm.
Dating from 1779 and the sole survivor of eighteenth-century northern cloth halls, which saw the trading of ‘pieces’ of cloth (a 30-yard length of woven woolen fabric produced on a handloom), The Piece Hall was the most ambitious and prestigious building of its type and is truly iconic.
Re-opened on 1 August 2017, The Piece Hall has since welcomed more than eight million visitors through its historic gates. It is now an award-winning contemporary leisure, retail, cultural and heritage destination, and the beating heart of a world-class cultural quarter within the town centre.
The 66,000 sq ft open air piazza hosts a year-round programme of events including large-scale music and sporting activities and food and drink festivals. In 2021, this has included the Live at The Piece Hall series of gigs, which saw renowned artists including New Order, the Kaiser Chiefs and the Manic Street Preachers perform at the venue.
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