I attended the switch on of the Diwali Lights in Barnsley town centre on Friday. Diwali is celebrated as the Indian new year and celebrated across the world. The main festival night of Diwali takes place on the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika -; usually between October and November.

The event was hosted by both the Gujarat association of Barnsley and The Indian Welfare Association of Barnsley. Barnsley is the only town in South Yorkshire to switch on Diwali lights -; an achievement the associations are rightly proud of.

I was given the ceremonial task of breaking a coconut at the event which may have taken me longer than I anticipated. I’ll make sure I spend the next year practicing!