DIWALI, the festival of lights, is illuminating the High Street for the first time with traders and the council all chipping in for lanterns.

Hindu and Sikh communities have invited residents and shoppers to join their celebrations, after councillors on the Hounslow Central Area Committee agreed to match town traders donations to the lighting spectacle.

The pea lights, which will be draped over trees along the High Street, will be turned on for the start of the festival on Wednesday, November 14, while the main celebrations take place at Lampton Park with a firework spectacular on Saturday, November 10.

The lights will remain up until the new year, serving as additional Christmas lights during the festive season.

Shopkeepers hope hanging the lights will become an annual event and grow from the High Street to other areas.

Jan Henson, town centre manager and lights co-ordinator, said: "I have asked for the scheme to be extended to next year and to run from the main Hounslow area to the bus station. But it's joint funded so it would be wrong to say it will be definite."

Representatives from the Hindu and Sikh communities are delighted by the council's steps to increase the festival's presence in the borough.

Hindu Cultural Trust Centre chairman, Som Nath Chityal said: "We welcome this very good idea. There are some 22,000 Hindu families in the borough and the whole community will be pleased at the decision to include Diwali in the festive season."

Leader of the Council, Cllr John Connelly, said: "Given Hounslow's multi-cultural community, it is important for us to recognise the wide range of festivals celebrated by local residents.

"Many central Hounslow residents celebrate Diwali and I have been asked in the past why this festival of lights is not celebrated in the High Street."

The Derby Road Multi-Cultural centre is also holding a special Diwali lunch from 12.30pm on Wednesday next week. Everyone is invited.

By.Abi Dornan