Diwali Celebrations at Wightwick Manor
Where heritage meets light, visitors can join in Diwali celebrations at Wightwick Manor and Gardens for a festival of light, storytelling, design and live music.
Diwali celebrations at Wightwick – a festival of light, storytelling and design
This autumn, Wightwick invites you to experience the magic of Diwali 2026 in a way that blends South Asian heritage with the rich arts and crafts legacy of the Manor house.
Following the success of last year's celebrations, we have expanded our programming activity for this year, with a range of events for all to enjoy.
- Fusion Part 2: A Diwali Installation: From 24 October - 8 November (open daily from 11am - 5pm, last entry 4pm), explore a colourful new installation in the Manor that reimagines Diwali through the lens of design produced by local artist Kanj Nicholas. Through a series of printing workshops with the local community and taking inspiration from the aesthetic of Wightwick, this installation blends rich Indian textiles, bold colours, and traditional motifs to create something truly unique.
- The Dark Forest - Ghost Stories at Diwali: An Evening of Storytelling. For two special evenings (30 and 31 October), join acclaimed British Punjabi storyteller Peter Chand for a captivating journey through the Dark Forest. Over two nights, Peter will explore themes of light and dark through his scariest stories from South Asia and beyond in the setting of the Great Parlour. This event is suitable for those aged 16 and over, and will include jumps and lighting effects.
- Live Music in the Great Parlour. During our two week celebration we will be joined by some of the finest musicians in the UK. On the 26-28 October we will be joined by sitar Chithrinie Nirupama and on 29 October and 6-7 November we will be joined by tabla and flute duo Soulful Sangeet (Mendi Singh and Shubham Tageja). Performances between 12-3pm on each day listed.
About Diwali
Diwali, widely known as the Festival of Light, is India’s most celebrated festival, observed by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. Held over five days in late autumn, its date shifts yearly based on the lunar calendar. While Diwali holds different meanings across religions and communities, it is united by themes of light, hope, and renewal. At this time, many Sikhs also celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, which remembers the release from prison and return to Amritsar of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind in 1619.
Wightwick’s Royal Connections to India
Did you know Wightwick Manor and Gardens has ties to Indian royalty?
Lionel and Alan Mander (brothers of Sir Geoffrey Mander, who donated Wightwick Manor) each married a princess from Cooch Behar, West Bengal. Their wives, Princess Pretiva and Princess Sudhira, were daughters of Maharajah Nripendra Narayan and Maharani Suniti Devi.
The Maharajah and Maharani were supporters of the British Raj and frequently visited England, forging strong cultural and diplomatic links between India and Britain.
Discover more about this remarkable connection and the stories behind it by following the link below.
Diwali is a time for reflection, joy, and togetherness, bringing families and communities together in celebration. Whether you are reconnecting with your roots or discovering something new, everyone is warmly invited to celebrate at Wightwick Manor and Gardens.
Wightwick's royal connections
Wightwick's global stories include Lionel and Alan Mander marrying Indian princesses over 100 years ago, forging royal connections. Discover more.
South Asian histories at the places in our care
Some of the places and collections we care for reveal stories from and connections to South Asian history, reflecting the UK's diverse heritage and cultural links to South Asia. Learn more about the people and pieces behind these connections from princesses to a peacock dress.
Family days out at Wightwick Manor and Gardens
With seasonal activities for all the family, gardens to explore, a natural play area and lots of history and nature to discover. Find out about our latest family activities and plan your day out.
