Leicester Diwali celebrations to draw large crowds 3 November 2013 Last updated at 17:13 Tens of thousands of people are expected to celebrate Diwali in Leicester city centre. Celebrations are due to be held in the streets around the Belgrave Road, known as the Golden Mile. About 35,000 turned out for the lights switch on last week, with even more expected for the main event. Diwali is a celebration of light over darkness and is a major Hindu festival also marked by Sikhs and Jains. Diwali, derived from a Sanskrit word meaning row of lights, is a major Hindu festival also observed by Sikhs and Jains Small earthenware lamps filled with oil are lit and lined along parapets of temples and houses, and set adrift on rivers and streams Day four of the five-day festival is the main event and beginning of the lunar month of Karttika - the Vikrama calendar's new year For many Hindus, the festival is an opportunity to honour Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. But a number of other gods and myths are also marked Source: BBC Religion and Ethics The annual Leicester event, which culminates in a large firework display in nearby Cossington Street Recreation Ground, is thought to be one of the largest Diwali parties outside India. Manjula Sood, chairman of the Leicester Council of Faiths, said that like many Hindus, she started the day with family prayers at home before exchanging sweets. "This year we are going to have a spectacular fireworks show and people will see how beautiful it is and then we greet each other on Belgrave Road," she said. She added: "It's not only for Hindus, Sikhs or Jains. This has become such a wonderful festival. You see people from everywhere, not only Leicester. They come from outside Leicester and share in our joy. As well as fireworks, people can enjoy Rangoli street art by artist Janak Chauhan as well as entertainment on stage in the park. Across the rest of the city, events have been held to celebrate Diwali including arts and crafts at Newarke Houses Museum and Gardens and several shows at Curve theatre. Belgrave Road and Belgrave Flyover will be closed to traffic from 17:30 to 21:30 GMT.