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Indian 11th Republic Day Celebrations at Leicester

Samosas sit alongside sandwiches as India's Republic Day is celebrated in fine style in Leicester.

News 1959 1 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for Media Archive for Central England

Overview

In January 1959 Indian independence day is celebrated with a dance display and cold buffet in the city of Leicester. Lord Mayor Sidney Brown welcomes members of the city's small but thriving Asian communities well before Leicester was known as one of the most multi-cultural cities in the UK.

This early effort by Leicester's council to celebrate the culture of its Asian communities has since developed into the hosting of one of the largest Diwali celebrations in the world as well as the ever popular Belgrave Mela.