Johannesburg - For a day, Newtown will be turned into a little pocket of India, with the exotic sights and sounds of the sub-continent pulsing through the air.
The festival of lights will illuminate Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, which will be abuzz with breathtaking costumes, live entertainment and a massive fireworks display for the second FNB Gauteng Diwali Festival.
Packed with activities from 10am till late on 23 October, the festival "is considered by far the largest attraction for Indians living in South Africa from all over Gauteng province, where one can enjoy an array of entertainment and bargain shopping," said Naufal Khan, the festival's media liaison officer.
"Regardless of the mythological explanation one prefers, what the festival of lights really stands for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously sanctioned celebration of the simple, and some not so simple, joys of life."
In 2009, about 30 000 people turned up for the first FNB Gauteng Diwali Festival. It has been labelled an amazing success that brought together a multitude of South Africans, reports Joburg.org.
This year, it will again stress the importance of Diwali, which "symbolises light over darkness ... it plays a critical role in conquering evil, creating unity and tolerance, and promoting eastern culture among all South Africans," said Sue Reddy, the City's Deputy Director of Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Kicking off proceedings on the day - as is customary - will be prayers, followed by a Ram Bhajan Group that will perform religious songs dedicated to Lord Rama, the deity and legendary king of Ayodhya, who is believed to have lived in 1450 BC. This is usually done by men.
Programme directors will include funny man Sans Moonsamy - known for his recent CTM advertisement - and Devan Moonsamy. Highlights will include the contribution of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in New Delhi, which will send a dance troupe from India to perform.
Dancers, musicians and almost all of the entertainment will come from many local Indian community organisations, such as the Johannesburg Yuvak Mandal, Jhankaar Dance Academy, Tribhangi Dance Theatre, Sitaare, Nritya Rupam, Tamil Association and Drisha Music Academy, among others.
Children's entertainment will be stilt walkers, jugglers, clowns and cup cake decorating. There will be competitions themed around the 150th anniversary of Indians arriving in South Africa - celebrated this year - and a sari-tying competition, as well as a Bollywood dance-off for all ages.
An exhibition will mark the 150th anniversary at Museum Africa, and authors Ashwin Desai, who wrote Inside Indenture, and Fakir Hussain, who wrote years of Bollywood Encounters, will be on hand to sign copies of their books.
Towards the evening, fire dancers and African drummers will line the venue, ahead of the arrival of Executive Mayor Amos Masondo and other dignitaries. Then it will be time for the traditional - and much anticipated - fireworks display, before the Lotus FM Bhangra Bash.
About 80 food stalls will be strategically placed around the square, ensuring that appetites are sated with an array of vegetarian food. There will also be other activities such as blood pressure testing and motivational speakers for the youth.
