The City of Cape Town has identified six areas that can be used for the discharge of fireworks for Diwali Religious Celebrations on Saturday, 21 October 2006.

The six sites are:

1. Pelican Park Primary
2. Vygieskraal Stadium, Athlone
3. Cravenby Sportsfield (next to Cravenby Secondary School)
4. Parking area outside Dockside, Century City
5. Parking area outside Green Point Stadium
6. Blaauwberg Beach area, opposite KFC (Blaauwberg Road)

The annual Hindu celebration of Diwali is a significant social ritual that goes back in time to the ancient religion, culture and folklore of India. Since the arrival of the first Indians in South Africa in the 1860s, Hindus have celebrated Diwali or Deepavali, which means a row of lights.

Discharging fireworks is a tradition symbolising the victory of light over darkness and good over evil and follows a month-long fast and abstinence from meat and alcohol by Hindus.

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Issued by:
Directorate: Communication and Marketing
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2201
Fax: 021 957 0023

Media queries:
Wilfred Solomons
Disaster Risk Management
Tel: 021 597 5000