The spirit of the Festival of Lights has illuminated the historic halls of the National Trust’s East Riddlesden Hall, marking the successful VIP launch of “The Stories of Diwali.” This eleven-day festival, which was running from Saturday, October 11, to Wednesday, October 22, 2025, was a beacon of cultural exchange, co-created by the Bradford Hindu Council (BHC) and the National Trust (NT).
The VIP launch event on October 17th served as a powerful testament to the theme: The victory of light over darkness and the strength found in community.
A Night of Unity and Tradition
The VIP launch was a spectacular evening, blending traditional Hindu rituals with dynamic cultural performances:
Guests were greeted with a complimentary drink and authentic Apna Khana canapés, welcomed by the exhilarating beats of dhol drummers.
The atmosphere was immediately festive, with a symbolic bindi and bracelet presented to guests upon arrival. Emily the host started the event with introductions and the evening’s formalities were anchored in tradition.
The symbolic Diya Lighting Ceremony led by Emily, with leaders from partner organisations—including the BHC’s Jayaraj Nambiar and Vipin Joshi—taking part and continuing with heartfelt Hindu prayers led by Reshma ji from the BHC.
Following the prayers, a series of important addresses were given by four keynote speakers. Emily delivered the opening welcome, followed by Jo Hudson (NT GM), who spoke about the National Trust’s dedication to making heritage sites truly inclusive.
Jayaraj Nambiar and Reshma ji then took the floor, passionately highlighting the meaning of Diwali as the victory of light over darkness while celebrating the immense success of the BHC and National Trust partnership.
The evening culminated in four short, captivating cultural performances that reflected the diversity of Indian traditions: Punjab (acoustic song/dholki), Tamil Nadu (semi-classical dance), West Bengal (dance with tabla), and Gujarat (folk dance).
BHC and Riddlesden Hall Shines on Regional News
The importance of the partnership and the celebration was broadcast across the region. On the launch day, BHC’s Deepak Sharma and NT General Manager Jo Hudson gave live interviews for both ITV Calendar News and BBC Look North Live. They highlighted the festival’s role in deepening cross-cultural understanding and celebrating the vibrant Hindu heritage within Yorkshire.
Experience the ‘Stories of Diwali’
Visitors were invited to explore the historic hall, which had been transformed by stunning illuminated displays and intricate community decorations. Four upstairs rooms were specially themed to share the personal stories and traditions of Tamil, Punjabi, Bengali, and Gujarati cultures.This was more than a display of lights; it is an invitation to share stories, celebrate the universal message of hope, and strengthen the bonds of community across Bradford and Yorkshire.
East Riddlesden V&C team worked with local schools to make diya lamps and pom poms, they also worked with the local Keighley Polish & Pakistani communities to make decorations. The festival has been truly inclusive. The Food and beverage team made an authentic chick pea curry the visitors enjoyed and on the last late night opening the curry sold out! The welcome team Hester and designer Liv worked hard to create the first ever National Trust Diwali pin badge. Laura Raddings Brown designed and delivered the curation of decorations and loaned community items. A full team approach working in partnership with Bradford Hindu Council ensured a full authentic Diwali 2025
