Day: November 2, 2024

Edinburgh Diwali hosts tenth celebration in Scotland’s capital

TOMORROW: Sunday 3rd November 2024

Edinburgh city centre will be awash with music and colour this weekend, as Edinburgh Diwali hosts its annual celebration of the festival of lights tomorrow on Sunday 3rd November.

This year will be the tenth celebration of the Indian festival in Scotland’s capital city, the largest public Diwali event in the country, which celebrates the triumph of light over darkness the world over. Free to attend and open to all, Edinburgh Diwali celebrates community and diversity in Edinburgh with a diverse and colourful programme of music and dance, parade, and fireworks display.

Rajnish Singh, President of Edinburgh Diwali, said: “We are celebrating our 10th Diwali, Festival of Light, complementing 900 years of Edinburgh city.

“Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated Indian festivals across the world by the Indian diaspora. We at Edinburgh Diwali organise the festival in such a way that anyone interested can participate with no barriers – open to all and free to attend in the city centre.

“We had to refresh the event in 2021 post Covid, and are really pleased that it has become one of the most popular communities led event in Edinburgh in a short span of time. We take pride in the way we celebrate the core message of light over darkness with an array of multicultural dance & music and fireworks – Uniting Communities, Celebrating Diversity.

“The organisation of Diwali 2024 is not possible without the hard work of Edinburgh Diwali committee, volunteers, performers, and the support from City of Edinburgh Council and our sponsors. I would like to extend my gratitude to all of them and to our audience for their continued support. We also highly appreciate the support and guidance from the office of Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Consul General of India, Edinburgh, and many long-standing friends of Edinburgh Diwali.

“We are eagerly looking forward to showcasing a vibrant and fun-filled Diwali 2024. On behalf of my Committee, I would like to invite all the residents and visitors of Edinburgh (and Scotland) to join us on 03 November with family & friends.”

Celebrations will begin at St Andrew Square, where performers from across Indian and Scottish culture will converge before setting off on a parade through Edinburgh’s New Town en route to Princes Street Gardens.

The display kicks off at St Andrew Square at 13:15, before making its way along George Street to Castle Street, led by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the Consul General of India and the Edinburgh Diwali Committee.

Lord Provost and Chair of Edinburgh Diwali, Councillor Robert Aldridge said: “Diwali is a vibrant, family-friendly festival of lights, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.

“Free and open to all, it has become one of Edinburgh’s unmissable events in recent years. I’m delighted to see it continue to grow and flourish. This year marks the tenth celebration of this Indian festival in Scotland’s capital, offering a lively programme of music, dance, and lights.”

The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland will lead proceedings with the unmistakable sound of Scotland, accompanied by pipers and drummers from the Stockbridge and Glencorse Pipe Bands. Following in their wake, the Edinburgh Noise Committee will provide a soundtrack for seven different dance troupes representing the different regions and diversity of Indian Culture.

Students from Ahalya Dance Academy will showcase the ancient art form of Bharatanatyam – a form of classical dance that takes its name from the Tamil words for expression, melody, rythym, and dance.

While the University of Edinburgh’s first South Asian fusion dance society  Junoon Dance and Edinburgh Bhangra Crew will showcase modern day India with a display of contemporary South Asian dance styles.

The different states and regions of India will be represented with traditional dance displays from Bihar, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu; and Edinburgh Diwali celebrates multiculturalism in Edinburgh by welcoming Soles Del Peru, who will bring a touch of Latin America and carnivale spirit to the parade.

Celebrations continue with the main event at the Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens from 15:30, with a varied and vibrant programme of music, drama, and dance. Indian fusion, Scottish Highland Dancing, and Bollywood all feature with performances from BollyFeat, Dance@Studio21, and Edinburgh’s longest running Indian dance school, Dance Ihayami.

Community members from Bharatiya Ashram, Dundee’s Dudhope Multicultural Centre, will depict the traditional story of Diwali with a dramatisation of the Ramayana, an Indian epic that follows the life of Rama,  the seventh avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu.

The evening will culminate with a headline performance from one of the UK’s leading British Asian fusion bands, Kaykay & Co.. Led by Kaykay Chouhan, their distinctive and contagious mix of Bollywood bangers and Western pop classics will enthral attendees before a show stopping fireworks display designed by 21CC beneath Castle Rock at 18:30.

Consul General of India, Edinburgh, Mr Siddharth Malik said: “Diwali, the festival of lights, is a celebration that transcends cultures and unites people in the spirit of hope, joy, and the triumph of good over evil. This beautiful festival, commemorating Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya, is now celebrated globally, and I am delighted to see the vibrant community in Edinburgh embrace this tradition with such enthusiasm.

“I am pleased to extend support of the Consulate General of India in Edinburgh to Edinburgh Diwali as they prepare for their annual celebration on 3rd  November, 2024.

The colourful parades, music, dance, and fireworks planned for the City Centre and the Princess Street Gardens will undoubtedly bring joy and excitement to all. This event is a testament of Indian community’s hard-work towards fostering cultural exchange and sharing traditions with the people of Scotland.

I thank the Edinburgh City Council for extending their support. I look forward to joining the festivities and celebrating with everyone.”

Edinburgh Diwali 2024 will take place from 13:15 on Sunday 3rd November. The event is free to attend and open to all, encouraging everyone to participate in the family-friendly celebration of light.

Edinburgh Diwali is held thanks to the kind support of the City of Edinburgh Council Diversity & Inclusion Fund, People’s Postcode Lottery, and People’s Postcode Trust,

The festival is further supported by Baillie Gifford, BEMIS Scotland, Craigvrack Hotel, Lidl GB, Mr Basrai’s World Cuisines, and two of Edinburgh’s leading Indian restaurants – Desh and Dishoom. Edinburgh Diwali works closely with Unique Assembly, producer of Edinburgh’s Christmas, to deliver Diwali as part of the city’s calendar of festive events.

For further information about Edinburgh Diwali, visit:

edinburghdiwali.co.uk or facebook.com/edinburgh.diwali.

Gregor Townsend enjoys friendly rivalry with Fijian veteran at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory

The Scottish Rugby coach chatted with Rav Ravutia about the upcoming Scotland V Fiji match at Murrayfield to be played today – Saturday, November 2 with a 5.40pm KO

Scotland international rugby coach Gregor Townsend enjoyed some friendly rivalry as he chatted with a Fijian veteran, whilst launching the Scottish Poppy Appeal 2024.

The rugby legend was visiting Lady’s Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh when he was introduced to staff member, Fijian national Rav Ravutia, ahead of his side’s Nations Series opener against Fiji on November 2.

Aswell as discussing the upcoming match, Gregor was interested to hear about Rav’s story and how he came to serve in Scotland and later work for Poppyscotland.

Rav, 51, was first introduced to Scotland after visiting the capital with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Band who were invited to perform in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1998.

Upon returning to his homeland, the following year Rav resigned from the Fijian Army after eight and a half years service and flew to Scotland to sign up for the British Army.

Serving from 1999 to 2023, Rav was a member of the Royal Scots and later the Adjutant General Corps. 

After leaving the Army he was a member of the Royal Scots Regimental Association Fijian branch in Edinburgh but found himself unemployed and with a forces disability was unsure where to turn.

With the help of fellow veteran friends, Rav was introduced to Poppyscotland.

Rav said: “Last year I was introduced to the work of Poppyscotland and very quickly was made extremely welcome. That is when I began my new career here as a veteran poppy and wreath maker.

“It is an absolute honour to work for this charity and goes to show just one of the many ways they can help veterans following service.”

Rav continued: “It was great to meet Scotland international coach Mr Townsend as he launched the Poppy Appeal and in particular ahead of Scotland playing my national team Fiji next month. We spoke about my time in the army and of course had some good chat about the rugby. In fact, I asked him to please go soft on Fiji!”

Gregor said: “It was a real privilege to meet the veterans at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory upon launching the Scottish Poppy Appeal, and great to meet Rav and share some friendly rivalry ahead of our Nations opener with Fiji.

“Every year Poppyscotland supports hundreds of veterans and their families, helping them live life fully after service.

“Show them you care, wear a poppy. Your donation can change lives for our Armed Forces community.”

The Scottish Poppy Appeal is Scotland’s biggest fundraising appeal, with more than three million poppies already being distributed around the country.

The money raised from the Appeal has enabled Poppyscotland to help countless men, women and families with issues linked to their time in the Armed Forces or with struggles adjusting from military to civilian life.People can find out more and support the Scottish Poppy Appeal at www.poppyscotland.org.uk.

Edinburgh Libraries receive donations of children’s books from 36 visiting UNESCO Cities of Literature

In October 2004, Edinburgh was designated the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, a permanent title celebrating Edinburgh’s status as a literary capital and pioneer in the UNESCO Creative Cities network.

The concept of a City of Literature was devised in Edinburgh by the Trust’s founding members Jenny Brown OBE, Catherine Lockerbie, James Boyle and Lorraine Fannin, trailblazing the way – there are now 53 UNESCO Cities of Literature across the world. 

To mark the occasion, 60 representatives from Cities of Literature destinations across the global network came to Edinburgh for a four day conference as part of The Scottish International Storytelling Festival last week (21-25 Oct 2024).

The conference helped mark the achievements of the past two decades and to make plans for the future – ensuring that Edinburgh continues to stay firmly on the literary map.

As part of this conference the Cities of Literature attending from all over the globe carried on the annual tradition of donating a selection of books to the hosting city.  This year’s donations sees a range of diverse and beautifully illustrated children’s books in the original language of each of these UNESCO Cities gifted to the Central Lending Library in Edinburgh.  

Keira Brown, Communications and Community Manager for Edinburgh City of Literature Trust, said: ‘It’s a wonderful initiative that the Cities of Literature decide to donate picture books from their city, showcasing the range of talent from this global network, giving back to Edinburgh for welcoming these delegates to the city for the week, such a beautiful idea reflecting the international connection that is so beneficial for the sector here in Edinburgh.’

Two women sitting in a round chair Description automatically generated

Keira Brown from Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust and UNESCO Cities of Literature Coordinator, Hannah Trevarthen, with a selection of the donated books.

Nottingham’s City of Literature Director and UNESCO Cities of Literature Chair, Hannah Trevarthen, said: “It’s a fantastic tradition, donating children’s books to the city hosting the meeting every year, and one we hope will long continue.

“It’s our thank-you to the city for all of the hard work that goes into hosting the Cities of Literature delegates.’We hope that the children of Edinburgh will be inspired by the books from other Cities of Literature from around the world.’’

Within Edinburgh City of Literature Trust’s twenty year span, they have helped grow a global network of international literary cities, for the benefit of writers and literature professionals, bringing opportunities for paid commissions, supporting creative practice and broadening literary networks internationally.

At a more local level in Scotland, the Trust’s work has ranged from high profile campaigns to community-based Edinburgh projects, with bold, innovative work bringing communities together – connecting readers and writers as well as literary organisations in the Scottish literature scene.

The Trust has also long partnered with Edinburgh Library service, working to advocate the importance of librarians and libraries across the city.

Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker, said: ““Donating children’s books is a wonderful tradition within the UNESCO Cities of Literature Network. Through our ongoing partnership we are thrilled to see this meaningful gesture from such a diverse network of cities. 

“As the founding city of this international cohort of UNESCO Cities of Literature, we take immense pride in celebrating our 20th anniversary, and I truly hope this wonderful tradition continues for many years to come.”

Edinburgh City of Literature Trust birthday also contributes to the on-going Edinburgh 900 celebrations; marking the 900 year anniversary of Edinburgh – a city-wide celebration of Edinburgh’s history, culture and future.

PICS: Neil Hanna

Thousands of online grooming crimes in Scotland during past five years

  • More than 3,000 Communicating Indecently with a Child offences have been recorded by Police Scotland during the past five years
  • NSPCC urges Ofcom to significantly strengthen its approach to child sexual abuse and for the UK Government to ensure the regulator can tackle grooming in private messaging

Over 3,000 online grooming crimes across Scotland have been recorded by Police Scotland during the past five years, new data compiled by the NSPCC has revealed.   

The figures provided by Police Scotland show 3,234 Communicating Indecently with a Child offences were recorded since 2019, with 672 offences recorded last year (2023/24) – an increase of 13% from the previous year.  

The NSPCC has issued these findings a year on from the Online Safety Act being passed.

The charity is urging Ofcom to significantly strengthen the rules social media platforms must follow to tackle child sexual abuse on their products.

They say the regulator currently puts too much focus on acting after harm has taken place rather than being proactive to ensure the design features of social media apps are not contributing to abuse.

The NSPCC is also calling on the Government to strengthen legislation to ensure child sexual abuse is disrupted in private messages such as on Snapchat and WhatsApp.

The charity’s Voice of Online Youth young people’s group were not surprised at the prevalence of Snapchat in offences.

Liidia, 13 from Glasgow, said: “Snapchat has disappearing messages, and that makes it easier for people to hide things they shouldn’t be doing.

“Another problem is that Snapchat has this feature where you can show your location to everyone. If you’re not careful, you might end up showing where you are to people you don’t know, which is super risky.

“And honestly, not all the rules in Snapchat are strict, so some people take advantage of that to do bad things. Apps should have better ways for us to report bad things, and they should always get updated to protect us better with the latest security tech.”

Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said: “One year since the Online Safety Act became law and we are still waiting for tech companies to make their platforms safe for children.

“We need ambitious regulation by Ofcom who must significantly strengthen their current approach to make companies address how their products are being exploited by offenders.

“It is clear that much of this abuse is taking place in private messaging which is why we also need the UK Government to strengthen the Online Safety Act to give Ofcom more legal certainty to tackle child sexual abuse on the likes of Snapchat and WhatsApp.”

National Police Chief’s Council Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigations (CPAI) Becky Riggs said: “The numbers in this NSPCC data are shocking and policing joins partners in urging tech companies and Ofcom to fulfil their legal and moral obligations to keep children safe from harm within the online communities they have created.

“A year on from the Online Safety Act being passed, it is imperative that the responsibility of safeguarding children online is placed with the companies who create spaces for them, and the regulator strengthens rules that social media platforms must follow.

“Policing will not stop in its fight against those who commit these horrific crimes. We cannot do this alone, so while we continue to pursue and prosecute those who abuse and exploit children, we repeat our call for more to be done by companies in this space.”