Vibrant Celebration of Cricket and Culture at the ECB Cricket Cities Diwali Cup Festival

Vibrant Celebration of Cricket and Culture at the ECB Cricket Cities Diwali Cup Festival

The spectacular ECB Cricket Cities Diwali Cup Festival took place at Emirates Old Trafford in October, transforming the Indoor Centre into a vibrant hub of colour, culture, and cricket.

Months of planning between the Lancashire Cricket Foundation (LCF) and GIEO Gita Manchester UK came to fruition as more than 250 players and spectators gathered to celebrate community and inclusion through the game.

The festival funded by the ECB Cricket Cities Programme, featured 12 teams from across Lancashire competing in a day of indoor cricket across two pitches. Beyond the action on the field, visitors enjoyed a packed programme of activities, including a traditional Indian dance display, a rangoli family arts club, live music, a DJ, and delicious vegetarian food and chai — making it a true festival of cricket and culture.

Junior Showcase

A new addition to this year’s festival was a Junior Cricket Showcase for children aged 5 to 15 years old, giving youngsters the chance to train in the Indoor Centre with Lancashire Cricket Foundation coaches.

They were also joined by Arav Shetty, a former Lancashire Academy player who has since progressed to first-class cricket. Arav took part a special training session and hosted an engaging Q&A with the boys and girls, sharing insights from his cricket journey and inspiring the next generation of players.

VIP Guests and Community Volunteers

We were delighted to welcome the Consul General of India, Mrs Vishakha Yaduvanshi (CGI), along with Cllr Vimal Choksi, Cllr Sangita Patel, and Cllr Kaushik Chakraborty — all of whom attended the event and spoke passionately about the cricket connections being forged.

A massive shout-out also goes to all the volunteers who helped with food, décor, registration, and everything in between. There were many people involved from across different community groups, reflecting the missions of LCF & GIEO Gita — bringing everyone together.

Trophy Winners:

Ram Rajya Cup – Starlit Strikers
Ayodhya Cup – Merseyside Sports and Cultural Club
Janaki Cup – Surya Shaktis
Vanara Cup – Janaki Warriors (our first-ever all-girls team — a truly special moment!)

Jen Barden, Managing Director - Lancashire Cricket Foundation said "The Diwali Cricket Cup 2025 was a tremendous success — an even bigger celebration than last year, spreading joy and unity throughout our community. At LCF, bringing people together through cricket and culture is at the heart of what we do. This year’s festival of lights brought together teams from temples across the region for an intergenerational cricket event, with children’s sessions and creative craft activities adding to the festivities.”

Aneet Kapour of GIEO Gita Manchester UK added:

"We're absolutely delighted with how this year’s Diwali Cup came together. Building on last year’s success, it was wonderful to see even more teams, families, and young players taking part — all playing with great enthusiasm and in true Diwali spirit."

Having four trophy winners this year and, for the first time, seeing our all-girls team, the Janaki Warriors, lift a trophy was a truly special moment — a milestone for women’s and girls’ cricket within our community.

This event has grown into something much more than just a cricket tournament; it’s become a celebration of culture, sport, and togetherness. The atmosphere was full of joy, respect, and friendship, and we’ve already had so many messages saying how much people enjoyed the day.”

GIEO GITA UK (Global Inspiration Enlightenment Organisation of the Bhagwad Gita) is an extension of the international GIEO GITA organisation based in India. Its mission is to unite like-minded individuals worldwide who believe in the universality of the Bhagwad Gita’s teachings.

The ECB Cricket Cities Programme is a key initiative designed to boost grassroots cricket in diverse, inner-city areas by making the sport more accessible and inclusive. The programme focuses on:

Diversity and Inclusion – engaging ethnically diverse communities and providing more opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and girls.
Community Engagement – working with local councils, community groups, and experts to tailor programmes to city needs.
Talent Development – providing alternative performance pathways through initiatives like the LCF Inter-League squads and state school academies.
Increased Access – supporting new facilities and flexible hours at community hubs.
Removing Barriers – tackling financial and accessibility challenges to ensure affordability and opportunity for all.

Diwali, known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important celebrations in Indian culture. It symbolises the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, marked by the lighting of lamps, sharing of sweets, and gatherings of families and friends.

The festivals origins are rooted in ancient Hindu traditions, celebrating the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana — a story that embodies hope, renewal, and community spirit. Today, Diwali is celebrated by millions of people of different faiths across the world, uniting communities through messages of peace, positivity, and togetherness.

At Emirates Old Trafford, the Diwali Cup carried these same values — illuminating the power of sport to bring people together in celebration, friendship, and joy.