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Maher Centre hosts Diwali dinners, community celebrations, cultural programmes and corporate Diwali parties in one pillarless 1,100m² hall in Leicester. Up to 1,000 seated, 800 with a dance floor or 1,500 for a show. Beef and pork are never served on site, and there's a 350+ space private car park for the whole family.
Leicester is known for one of the biggest Diwali celebrations outside India, and for families, community organisations and companies here, the festival of lights is the highlight of the year. When the guest list runs into the hundreds, you need a hall that can take everyone, with food that respects the occasion.
Maher Centre's main hall is 1,100m², single-storey and pillarless, so grandparents at the back see the performances as clearly as the children at the front. Beef and pork are not served on the grounds of the Maher Centre, which many Hindu, Jain and Sikh families find reassuring, and your caterer can serve a fully vegetarian menu.
We host the festival in all its forms: Hindu families marking Lakshmi Puja and the new year, Sikh celebrations of Bandi Chhor Divas, Jain gatherings, and mixed community events where everyone is welcome.
Extended family, friends and neighbours together for one big festive meal. Round tables, a dance floor and room for the children to run about.
Diwali and new year programmes for associations, mandirs, gurdwaras and community groups, with up to 1,500 in theatre-style seating.
Classical and Bollywood dance, music, drama and children's performances. Two en-suite dressing rooms for performers to get ready.
Staff and client celebrations with dinner, a short programme and a DJ. See also our corporate events page.
The whole festive season from Navratri nights to new year gatherings.
Diwali galas raising money for good causes. Our venue is itself run by a registered charity. See charity galas.
Maher Centre doesn't do in-house catering. Instead you choose a caterer from our partner network, teams who know the venue inside out, or bring your own family favourite. Beef and pork are not served on the grounds of the Maher Centre. Many Diwali hosts go fully vegetarian, and Jain or no-onion, no-garlic dishes can be arranged directly with your caterer. Sweets and mithai counters, chaat stations and live tawa cooking all work well here. Your caterer cooks in our industrial kitchen, which has four burners, a free gas supply and refrigeration.
Diwali is about light, and we love a showstopping moment. Diyas, candles, cold sparklers, fireworks and pyrotechnics are all welcome, subject to written approval, so we can plan them safely. A rangoli at the entrance makes a beautiful welcome; talk to your event manager about where it can go so guests don't walk through it.
Many families and community groups include a short Lakshmi Puja or aarti in the programme. Let us know when you plan the running order and we'll help you set a calm moment aside before the music starts.
Plenty of Diwali celebrations here are alcohol-free. If you'd like a bar, our optional corkage and bar hire comes in three tiers, or we can refer you to a specialist bar company.
Every booking covers a full 12 hours including supplier set-up and pack-down, so nothing ever feels rushed.
About two hours for your décorator to hang lights and marigolds and for your caterer to fire up the kitchen.
Guests park on site, admire the rangoli, and gather for a short puja or aarti.
Festive meal, performances, children's dances and the family slideshow on the LED screen.
DJ, dhol and a packed dance floor, plus any fireworks approved in writing.
Optional extras include banqueting packages (Essential, Classic or Signature), an LED dance floor, crystal chandelier, tiered front steps and LED screens. All are covered by our price-match promise, and every event is quoted individually in writing.
Diwali follows the lunar calendar, so the date moves each year, usually landing in October or November. Popular Saturdays and festival dates book up early. Venue tours are by appointment and take about 30 minutes. We're at 15 Ravensbridge Drive, Leicester LE4 0BZ, five to ten minutes from M1 Junction 21, which makes it easy for relatives driving in from Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham and Northampton.
Tell us a little about your event and our events team will come back to you within one working day with availability and a written quote.