In the light of my previous posts on Brent's decision to end grants for festivals it does not deem 'inclusive' I was interested to see a comment from Venilal Vaghela, Chair of Brent Diwali Advisory Board. Brent Council has said that it wants to combine various festivals together in one big 'Brent Celebrates' event. It has already lumped together Black History Month, Diwali and Halloween in the Word Up! event. LINK Its claim that Brent's Bonfire Night combines Diwali and Guy Fawkes is challenged by Mr Vaghela who says:
Our fireworks celebrate the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. The bonfire night fireworks stand for something completely different and the dates do not match. It would be like celebrating Christmas in January.Diwali is on October 26th this year and will be celebrated at the weekend. Bonfire Night at Barham Park is on November 5th. Perhaps Brent's insensitivity to the cultural meaning of events will mean that they combine Easter and St Patrick's Day in the Spring! They may even call it the 'Easter Uprising'...
or the Pagan winter festival and Christmas ?
ReplyDeleteReally sad that such a key event for the local community at Roundwood Park has been cancelled. Fireworks to commemorate Guy Fawkes night is part of our cultural heritage and it was such a pleasure to celebrate with all our neighbors. It's not often that all ages, creeds and colours can get together and enjoy something so quintessentially British. Thanks Brent Council, David Cameron and the Cuts Culture. Another element of social cohesion bites the dust. Where is Sudbury anyway?
ReplyDeleteI could quarrel with you about the historical origins and I remember being told that 'Guy Fawkes was the only man to enter Parliament with good intentions'. That aside, chatting to people in Harlesden today,this seems to be people in the South of Brent missing out again.Also rather undermines Ann John's claim that Bonfire Fireworks have been kept on as it will prevent people getting hurt when they set off their own. That's rather more likely now in the confined spaces of Kilburn, Willesden and Harlesden.
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