Successful Diwali Celebration Brings Gravesend Community Together

An evening of music, dancing and celebration took place in Gravesend on Friday 30th October 2026, as local residents came together to mark Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

Produced by Cohesion Plus working in partnership with Kent Equality Cohesion Council and Rethink Sahayak, the event was held at St George’s Church in Gravesend proved to be a great success.

The event, which had a particular focus on residents aged 65 and over, featured lively performances from the 4×4 Bhangra Group and Kings of Dhol, alongside music from DJ Mahey. The performances created a wonderful atmosphere, with guests enjoying the opportunity to dance, socialise and celebrate together.

As well as celebrating Diwali, the evening provided an important opportunity for older residents to meet others, make new connections and enjoy an evening out in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Representatives from Involve Kent also attended the celebration, showing their support for an event that placed particular emphasis on bringing older residents together. Their presence reflected the value of community organisations working alongside one another to encourage social connections, reduce isolation and help people feel included in local community life.

Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, Artistic Director of Cohesion Plus, said:

“We were absolutely delighted with how the evening went. There was such a lovely atmosphere, and it was fantastic to see everyone enjoying themselves, particularly our older residents.”

“While Diwali is an important celebration for the Hindu and Sikh communities, events like this are also about bringing the wider community together, regardless of background. At a time when loneliness and isolation remain real challenges for many older people, creating opportunities for people to come together, enjoy themselves and feel part of their local community is more important than ever.”

“I would like to thank everyone who attended, our performers and all those who helped make the evening such a success.”

The celebration forms part of Cohesion Plus’s wider programme of community arts and cultural events across Kent, supported by Arts Council England, which aims to bring communities together, celebrate cultural diversity and create opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with the arts.