Diwali Celebration Awarded National Lottery Funding

Chiltern Open Air Museum is delighted to announce that it has received funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to support Diwali celebrations at the Museum in both 2025 and 2026.

The funding will support all aspects of the event, from buying drums for drumming workshops to supplying arts and crafts materials for the activities. It will also provide technical support for lighting & sound and resources to promote the event throughout the local community.

An independent local charity, Chiltern Open Air Museum is committed to celebrating the heritage of communities in the Chilterns. Building on the relationships formed through its intercultural project, Campfire Heritage Stories events, supported by The Rothschild Foundation, the Museum held its first Diwali Celebration in 2024, working with community partners to create an inclusive vibrant event for all ages to enjoy.

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by millions of people around the world from a variety of faiths, including Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and some Buddhist communities. It symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, bringing people together in a spirit of renewal and hope.

This year, Diwali activities at the Museum will include drumming and dancing workshops, storytelling, Diwali themed arts and crafts activities, the opportunity to try on traditional outfits and enjoy mouth-watering South Asian food.

The National Lottery Community Fund funds community projects that help people connect, grow and build a better future. They focus on supporting people facing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination. By 2030, they will share over £4 billion to create stronger, fairer communities across the UK.