Shashish is part of the family who founded the Pate’s Diwali celebration over 10 years ago, 

What an incredible achievement by our Committee and community! Pate’s is unique in every way and sets an example for other schools to follow!

The 9th November 2024 saw the successful completion of the 10th Diwali Celebration in support of the Pate’s Giving initiative. This remarkable event involved the effort of local communities, organisations and women entrepreneurs, making it a sold-out celebration. This year, the event was honoured by Councillor Paul Baker, Mayor of Cheltenham, and Max Wilkinson, Cheltenham MP, along with over 500 guests and 110 performers.

The history of this celebration is a testament to the passion and dedication of many. What started in October 2015 with the initiative of my sister, Thrinethra Gowri Shankar, then in Year 9, alongside the guidance of Dr Gayathiri Gowri Shankar and Mrs Yvonne Shelmerdine, has evolved into an annual event in support of Pate’s fundraising appeals. With no other community celebration in Gloucester and Cheltenham, it was a way to bring the community together, whilst raising money for the school.

In the first year, there were only five performers from the school, one professional artist from London and was attended by just over 100 guests. Over the years, this celebration grew in popularity, inviting guest performers and audience members from as far as the West Midlands and the South. As its popularity has grown, we have increased the capacity year on year; this year was particularly remarkable with more than 500 guests in attendance.

Every year, the Pate’s Diwali Committee introduces new Indian performing arts into the celebration. This year, we featured Kavadi and Oyilattam, folk dances from South India. There were over 110 performers from school pupils and 10 guest performers from local organisations and grammar schools.  We had a live food stall by Dosa Park, which included Indian pancakes (dosa), chaat items and many more mouth watering dishes. Our henna stall, led by Shloka (Yr 10), attracted many guests eager to get a henna tattoo.

Since it was the 10th year this year, we had mums walking down the ramp to showcase their unique styles and Indian handlooms by wearing colourful sarees. We concluded the evening with a grand finale dance by engaging the full auditorium, with a highly requested second repeat of the finale dance.

Of the event, Cheltenham MP, Max Wilkinson said:

“We very much enjoyed the occasion, with all its joy, colour, singing, dancing and music. As a liberal, I find strength in our community’s diversity. Events such as Diwali help bring people together and foster cross-cultural understanding. I look forward to attending future events.”

The Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Paul Baker said:

“We had a wonderful afternoon, the quality of the performances was exceptional as was the welcome we received.”

ITV previously listed our event as the Best Diwali Celebration in the South-West, and we are proud to be the only school in the UK celebrating Diwali for 10 consecutive years, with involvement from local communities, artists, businesses, and extended regions including the South West and Midlands. Pate’s Diwali Celebration has been recognised as the second-largest Diwali celebration in the UK, after Leicester.

On behalf of the Pate’s Diwali Committee I would like to take the opportunity to send special thanks to Mrs Shelmerdine, Miss Morgan, Mrs Cartwright and Mrs Priya Sivaraman, Pate’s Diwali Committee Lead; and from all who attended, I would like to thank Mr Vinodh Chillaar, Mrs Karuna Maddukuri and Mrs Nidhi Chillaar, Mrs Sneha Kiran, Mr Abishek and Mrs Meenu Bhartiya and Mr Sundar Thovalai; all parent helpers who helped to run food and henna stalls, backstage, the front ticketing desk and photography, respectively!

This year, the event was generously sponsored by Dosa Park, Cirencester and Nethra Academy of Performing Arts, Gloucester, and raised over £5,100 for Pate’s Giving –  thank you so much to everyone involved!

The date for our Diwali Celebration 2025 will be announced soon – we look forward to seeing you at next year’s celebration.

The school would like to wholeheartedly thank Dr Gayathari Gowri Shankar, Mr Gowri Shankar and Mrs Priya Sivaraman and their wider team of helpers for their tremendous work in making Diwali 2024 such a successful event and for their generous contribution to the Pate's Giving fundraising appeal.