Edinburgh Diwali returns to Princes Street Gardens for its eleventh year

The Festival of Light is coming back to the heart of the capital. Edinburgh Diwali, Scotland's largest public Diwali celebration, returns on Sunday 15 November for its eleventh year, and it is free for everyone.

The day begins with a parade through the New Town, ending at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens for an afternoon of live performances. Organisers expect thousands of people to gather in the city centre, and the programme will fuse pan-Indian culture with local Scottish traditions through music, dance and entertainment.

The event coincides with the opening weekend of the city's Winter Festival and has become a regular fixture in Edinburgh's cultural calendar over the past decade. As part of the extended celebrations, Diwali Idols will be installed at the Ross Bandstand from Friday 6 November, giving visitors a focal point in the days before the main event.

Edinburgh Diwali is a registered charity, set up as an initiative of the Lord Provost to bring Diwali to the wider community so that people of all backgrounds can share in it. Its organisers describe Diwali as a festival celebrated by around 1.5 billion people worldwide, an occasion for young and old, regardless of faith or background, to celebrate the victory of good over evil and welcome light into their lives.

The charity's ambition has always been big: to make Diwali one of the best-loved festivals in Scotland and a natural start to the capital's winter celebrations. Local performers will appear alongside artists showcasing traditional Indian arts, creating a programme the organisers describe as unique to Edinburgh.

Further details on the parade route and the timings for the stage acts will be released by the organisers closer to the day, and updates will be shared on the charity's social media channels.

On a dark November afternoon, a parade of colour, music and light through the New Town is a joyful way to welcome the festive season, and a reminder of how many communities call Edinburgh home.

Information about the parade, performances and the Diwali Idols is on the Edinburgh Diwali website.