Several hundred people gathered together to celebrate the festival of lights on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Organized by the Brantford Hindu Temple (BHCA), the second annual outdoor Diwali Mela and fireworks show returned to D’Aubigny Creek Park, drawing residents for a vibrant celebration of community and culture.
“‘Mela’ means gathering or celebration, and a Diwali Mela is where people get together to celebrate, wish each other a happy Diwali, and enjoy food, music, dance and fireworks,” said Krupesh Shah, of the Hindu Temple Committee. “Tonight is more of the celebration, and tomorrow we will do more of the ritual things at the temple.”
Known as the Hindu festival of lights, Shah said Diwali represents the triumph of light over darkness.
“It takes place once a year, falling between October and November, and it’s a celebration of the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. This is a methodological story about Lord Ram, which Hindu people believe in,” he said. “Lord Ram came back home after 14 years of exile and his victory over a demon. When he returned, there was a celebration and that’s what is called Diwali. Back in the day, thousands of years ago when there was no electricity, people would light their entire house with diyas. Diwali means rows of diya, and diya means lamp. So it’s really a festival of joy and victory.”
Shah continued, “India is a huge country, but this festival is about more than just a place; it’s about Hinduism. Hindu people around the world observe Diwali, but it’s not just them either. The Sikh and Jain community also celebrate the occasion, and so all those communities come together for this. It’s the one festival that is celebrated at large in India and across the world.”
The mela brought people of all ages together to mingle, dance the night away, and enjoy food and drinks from local favourites like Pizzaville, Taal Fine Indian Cuisine and Rangoli Brantford.
From dosas to samosas, chai, pakora, channa masala, shahi paneer and more, there were plenty of delicious treats to warm up with on a chilly fall night.
After hearing from Brantford Mayor-Elect Richard Carpenter and Brantford Hindu Priest Madhu Kundan Shastri, the long-awaited fireworks show began.
Attendees of all ages laughed and clapped as the show lit up the night sky, with many taking photos of the scene above them.
Shah later said he was pleased with the turnout.
“We were expecting more people than this, but it turned out to be quite chilly. Though despite the colder weather, this is a great turnout,” he said. “I would also like to let people know that this event is open to all, and we encourage more and more people from the Brantford-Brant community to come next year and celebrate together.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
