Today is the festival of Diwali celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. Southall is one place where this "Festival of Lights" cannot be overlooked, as the town has tens of thousands Hindus and Sikhs.

One of the easily noticeable things is the sheer number of small lighted candles (divas) on the front garden walls.

Some individuals even cover the whole front of their house with Christmas lights, many days in advance.

The sky is lit up in the evening and at night by a constant barrage of colorful, spectacular and loud fireworks.

Hindus celebrate the return of Rama and Sita to Ayodhya after their 14-year exile. It occurs on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartika.

Sikhs celebrate the release from prison of the sixth guru, Hargobind Singh in 1619.

Jains celebrate it as the moment, the founder of Janism Lord Mahavira reached a state called Moksha (Nirvana, or eternal bliss).

Last year Diwali was celebrated on Friday 26th October 2008.
Prior to that, it was Friday 9th November 2007.