Night to Remember: Bradford Hindu Council Hosts Sold-Out Annual Diwali Awards 2026
The Cedar Court Hotel was filled with joy, light, and togetherness on Friday, 23rd October, as the Bradford Hindu Council (BHC) hosted its annual Diwali Awards ceremony to a completely sold-out room. Above all, the evening stood out as a true interfaith and intercommunity celebration, bringing together people from across diverse cultures and beliefs to share in the festive spirit.
The evening kicked off with a traditional Diya lighting ceremony led by Pandit Haridas Ji alongside an esteemed line up of VIP guests: Lord-Lieutenant Professor Adeeba Malik Ji CBE, Vice Consul Pradeep Kumar Mishra Ji from the Manchester Indian Consulate, Lord Mayor Councillor Chris Herd, Dr Sofia Buncy Ji DL MBE, Dr Kuldip Kaur Bharj Ji OBE DL, Chief Superintendent Richard Padwell KPM, Council Leader Councillor Stephen Place and Archdeacon of Bradford Dr Andy Jolley also including BHC Chair Deepak Sharma Ji and Vice Chair Reshma Patel Ji
In deeply moving addresses, both Lord-Lieutenant Professor Adeeba Malik Ji CBE and Vice Consul Pradeep Kumar Mishra Ji gave heartfelt speeches reflecting on the true meaning of Diwali, emphasising unity, compassion, hope, and the triumph of light over darkness across all communities.
Throughout the evening, dignitaries and local sponsors presented prestigious awards and special recognition honours to the selfless local heroes whose dedication and service for Bradford was recognised. Guests also tried their luck in an exciting charity raffle, adding an extra buzz of anticipation to the room.
Master of Ceremonies Anil Bhammi Ji kept energy levels sky-high, while spectacular live performances entertained the crowd. The line up featured electrifying Dhol players DDV, Also artists performed high energy Bollywood and Bhangra dance routines. To top it all off, Soul Asia provided a fantastic DJ roadshow that kept the dancefloor packed late into the night.
It was a vibrant, heart warming showcase of Bradford at its absolute best, a city standing together in unity, friendship, and festive joy.
On behalf of the Bradford Hindu Council, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our generous sponsors, raffle donors, the Cedar Court Hotel team, our incredible volunteers, distinguished VIP guests, and every single person who attended. Your warmth, generosity, and support made this sold-out evening such a resounding success, we could not have done it without you.
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