Diwali Cup lights up Emirates Old Trafford
The inaugural Diwali Cricket Cup took place at Emirates Old Trafford recently – with people of all ages coming together to celebrate.
The event, held on Sunday November 3rd, was ran in collaboration by Lancashire Cricket Foundation and GIEO GITA UK (Global Inspiration Enlightenment Organisation of the Bhagwad Gita) and held in the Indoor Centre.
The event was opened with speeches from Lancashire Cricket Foundation Executive Director Jen Barden, Councillor Vimal Choksi MBE and Navendu Mishra MP before a devotional dance performance from Pyramid Yoga and Danca Academy and drum performance from SKSST Bolton.
Five hours of fast paced cricket saw eight teams from across Lancashire come together to compete in a hard tennis ball tournament – whilst entertainment played, food and drinks were also served in accordance with the Diwali traditions.
Didsbury Indians, Firecrackers, MDG, MMM_DTP, Team Pathaka, HSS Sale Shakha, SKSST Bolton & HSS Warrington all competed for The Diwali Cup & The Diwali Trophy with a mix of youth and adults alike in the playing squads.
Off the field Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, was celebrated with Rangoli - an art form in which patterns are created on the floor or a tabletop using colourful materials, the ‘lighting’ of Diyas and many other Diwali related craft activities. There was also a presentation on the meaning of Diwali for all the youngsters and this proved very popular with families who were creating artwork long into the evening.
The event was supported by the ECB Core Cities programme.
Ammar Ashraf, Urban Cricket Manager, said “It is a privilege and honour to be part of the inaugural Diwali Cup at Emirates Old Trafford. We have strong connections with the Hindu community in Lancashire and have come together to celebrate Diwali, a special day for over 1 billion Hindus globally. A great evening filled with happiness, joy, prayer, food, education and obviously cricket. A special thanks to GIEO GITA UK for partnering with us and supporting this wonderful event which will be a permanent fixture in our calendar going forward. Diversity is our strength.”
The entrance to the Indoor Centre was beautifully transformed by dedicated volunteers into a vibrant teleport capsule, transporting attendees straight to India. A stunning, colourful display featured life-sized cardboard cut-outs of Lord Rama, Sita, and Lord Hanuman, symbolising their return to Ayodhya. Enhanced by radiant lighting, rich colours, and uplifting devotional music, the scene warmly welcomed everyone to the Diwali Cup and set a spiritual tone for the event. Attendees were invited to offer a diya as an offering and prayer, adding a personal touch to the celebration before the festivities began.
Music played throughout with a Diwali inspired playlist and sound effects to add to the drama on the pitch all captured on a film.
Pure Vegetarian food and drink was served to spectators, players and their families as the event split into two knockout competitions.
Firecrackers ran out convincing winners of the showpiece Diwali Cup with Pramodh Kumar lifting the Diwali Trophy and HSS Sale lifting the Diwali Trophy.
Aneet Kapoor of GIEO GITA UK, said: "This landmark event brought together communities from across all regions of India—North, South, East, and West—uniting Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Swaminarayan followers in a joyous Diwali celebration through a shared love of cricket with the Lancashire Cricket Foundation. We are incredibly grateful to Lancashire Cricket for opening the doors of Old Trafford to the Hindu community and to our dedicated volunteers who made this event possible.
From the vibrant decor and devotional elements to the food prepared in accordance with Hindu customs—pure vegetarian, without onion or garlic, so that everyone could enjoy it—every detail was designed to honour our shared values. Attendees were invited to remove their shoes and offer diyas in a space that truly reflected the spirit of Diwali. We look forward to building a strong, long-standing relationship with Lancashire Cricket Foundation, celebrating our culture and community in partnership for years to come."
Jen Barden, Executive Director commented "What an honour to be a part of the Diwali celebrations, a wonderful event with so much passion for cricket. The atmosphere in the cricket centre was amazing with some really enjoyable cricket being played! The blend of cricket with faith celebration, education and of course food was well balanced. A fun and information education session for the young people focusing on Diwali, what it means to them and how they celebrate at home followed by the fun of the cricket tournament too gave a real insight of how we can foster a deeper connection between all elements."
Thank you to GIEO GITA UK for their incredible work pulling the event together with the LCF team, the support of Councillor Vimal Choksi MBE and Navendu Mishra MP and all those who took part!
Here are some quotes from those involved:
“Heartfelt thanks to the GIEO Gita Team and Lancashire Cricket Foundation for an incredible event. It was a wonderful experience, and we truly enjoyed it.”
“Thank you – it was an amazing event and the whole family loved before at Emirates Old Trafford to celebrate Diwali with you.”
“A big thank you to the GIEO Gita Team and LCF for organising the first Diwali Cup! It was wonderful, and it was heart warming to see so many people celebrating with their families. Truly a memorable day for everyone.”
“Some thrilling final ball finishes at The Diwali Cup – and a Super Over! Now I know what it feels like to be pitch at The IPL! The Plate Final turned out to be Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Lions.”
“Thank you for organising the event! It was fantastic, the teams and the supporters loved it. Especially the young people!