Diwali Festival Leicester

What a wild and different way to start the first year of university! I got an invitation to go with the Hindu society to Leicester on a trip to enjoy Diwali. Initially I didn’t know I would get inspiration for my first and second year projects, however the beauty in the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Temple and the experience created amazing content for my designs and was the beginning of new friendships too. As well as the golden mile and going for an Indian meal, I went into the temple and learned how to pray and saw many Hindus offering flowers, food and Diyas. The pillars in particular were incorporated into my designs and pictures were allowed to be taken on the outside of the temple, although it isn’t permitted inside the temple. The circular ceilings were often carved in motifs of nature (leaves, flowers, elephants) in many Hindu temples as I discovered when researching further into Indian architecture. What delighted me the most was the sense of inclusion and collaboration in Indian culture, I felt very welcomed hence why this was one of my most memorable experiences.