Stay safe during this year’s Navratri and Diwali festivals
Families in Rugby will be able to get top tips on how to keep their homes and their relatives safe from fire as they celebrate the festivals of Navratri and Diwali over the next few weeks.
Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service will be visiting Rugby’s Indian Community Centre on Edward Street to speak to local people, raising awareness of how to stay safe from fire hazards during these important festivals in the Indian calendar.
The celebration of Navratri, which means Nine Nights, runs from 23rd September to 1st October and is traditionally a vibrant festival of worship, dance and music. It is followed by Diwali on 21st October. Diwali is a short version of the word Deepawali, which means ‘cluster of lamps’.
It is customary for people to decorate their homes with candles and ‘divas’ - little wicks doused in ghee or butter – throughout the year, but particularly during the celebrations.
Station Manager, Michael Leach said: “In addition to the risks posed by lots of naked flames around the home, it is also common for families to hold fireworks displays during Navratri and Diwali. We want to offer advice and guidance that will help people celebrate these wonderful festivals safely.”
A fire safety information display and variety of safety leaflets will be at the Indian Community Centre in Rugby from 23rd September until 1st October. Officers from Warwickshire Fire & Rescue will be visiting the Centre to offer advice on celebrating the festivals safely on:
Monday 25th September, 8pm – 9.30pm
Wednesday 27th September, 8pm – 9.30pm
Friday 29th September, 8pm – 9.30pm
Sunday 1st October, 8pm – 9.30pm
Warwickshire Fire & Rescue will also be promoting free Home Fire Safety Checks, giving families the opportunity to get their homes checked for fire risks and receive free professional advice.
Ish Mistry, President of Rugby’s Indian Community, said: “Navratri and Diwali are important festivals in the Indian calendar and we are delighted that fire officers from Rugby will be making people aware of the dangers and offering advice on how to celebrate them safely.”