Diwali Celebration at Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre
Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre hosted a Diwali event on Thursday 13th October 2022 to raise money for Cancer Research at Great Ormond Street Hospital!
What is Diwali?
Diwali is the five-day Festival of Lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. Diwali, which for some also coincides with harvest and new year celebrations, is a festival of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. The festival usually lasts five days and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika (between mid-October and mid-November). During Diwali, people wear their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with diyas and rangoli, perform worship ceremonies of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth, light fireworks, and partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared.
At the event in Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre, residents were asked to pay a fee of £5 (all proceedings going to charity) which included a vegetarian meal made by Barnet volunteers. Over 100 people attended the event, and there was entertainment available with fun games and activities, as well as a fantastic dance performance being provided for by member’s of City of University of London’s Bollywood Dance Society! After induldging in all the traditional foods, all those in attendance were encouraged to take part in a simple Bollywood dance workshop led by a qualified instructor. This gave residents the opportunity to stay active and take part in a light form of physical activity. Overall, it was a tremendous event with over £2000 being raised for cancer research at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Who is Great Ormond Street Hospital?
Great Ormond Street Hospital is a fantastic children's hospital located in the Bloomsbury area of the London Borough of Camden, and a part of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust. The hospital is the largest centre for child heart surgery in the UK and one of the largest centres for heart transplantation in the world. The hospital has relied on charitable support since it first opened, and one of it’s main sources of support is Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. Whilst the NHS meets the day-to-day running costs of the hospital, the fundraising income allows Great Ormond Street Hospital to remain at the forefront of child healthcare. The charity aims to raise over £50 million every year to complete the next two phases of redevelopment, as well as provide substantially more fundraising directly for research.
Petrit Krasniqi (Better Barnet's Community Sports Officer)