The City of Belleville will be celebrating Indian heritage and culture again next month.

City council approved the 2nd annual Diwali Festival on Sunday, Oct. 16 at West Zwick’s Park from 2 to 8 p.m.

The event has grown quickly after its inaugural celebration launch last year in Market Square.

Diwali is the traditional “festival of lights” and cultural exchange in India, and a triumph of “good and evil” and “light over darkness,” as described by the event’s organizing committee.

It is a festive celebration where attendees bring their best food, music and colours to the table to share.

Everyone from the public can come down and take part in the Rangoli and Diya decorating and lighting ceremony, get your face painted, participate in a family dance, and watch the fireworks finale at 8 o’clock on the 16th.

All of these elements represent happiness, festiveness, and positivity.

Committee member and Belleville International founder Hardik Patel said Diwali is ultimately all about bringing communities - and the world at large - together as one.

"If you have a bad word with your neighbors, try to bring them," he said. "We will try to make sure we will create that bond so you will make good relations with them. That's what our main goal is."

To allow for the event to take place, the area south of Dundas Street, east of Sidney Street South, and south and west of the Moira River will be designated as the areas and locations of a ‘Civic Celebration.’

The event will be organized by the festival organizing committee in conjunction with the Belleville Chamber of Commerce and the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.