On Friday 10 November, BBC Asian Network will dedicate the whole day to this year’s Festival of Lights with an All Day Diwali party, allowing listeners to start their celebrations early from home.

From 7am until midnight, listeners can expect to hear all day mixes hosted by their favourite DJs and presenters as well as a very special co-host on BBC Asian Network Breakfast with Nikita Kanda. All mixes will be available on BBC Sounds as part of All Day Diwali.

Celebrations on the network will begin at 7am as BBC Asian Network Breakfast host Nikita Kanda is joined by world-famous Bollywood playback singer Nikhita Gandhi for a very special co-host. The show will feature a special Love Friday mix from Dipps Bhamrah as well as Diwali well-wishes from a variety of stars as they drop by to wish everyone a very happy Diwali (7-11am).

Haroon Rashid will then take over from 11am dropping the biggest Bollywood mashups and mixes. Taking to the streets of Southall, West London, he will become ‘Haroon the Halwai’ (sweet maker) as he debuts his own brand of Jaffa Cake flavoured barfi Indian sweets for all to try (11-3pm).

The celebrations continue into the late afternoon and evening with Nayha (3-6pm) soundtracking your Diwali with the biggest tracks from previous years and Panjabi Hit Squad (6-9pm) taking over the party until 9pm.

DJ Limelight will close the celebrations bringing the biggest beats from across the UK Asian and underground scene as well as an all-star Diwali themed Shisha Lounge Mix and Guest Mix. He will also be opening the Request Line for any special requests (9 -midnight).

Over the weekend, BBC Asian Network will continue to observe the festival of lights across BBC Asian Network’s social channels as well as releasing three brand new Diwali themed playlists in Asian Network’s Ultimate Playlist series hosted by homegrown artist Jaz Dhami, Indian playback superstar Nikhita Gandhi and commonwealth powerlifting champion and host of Asian Network Motivation Karenjeet Kaur Bains.

Head of BBC Asian Network, Ahmed Hussain says: “We’re bringing you your Diwali celebrations early this year on the Asian Network to help playlist your weekend. With co-hosts and unique mixes from some of the networks favourite DJs and presenters, our All Day Diwali party aims to get listeners in the mood to celebrate those all so special moments from the comfort of their own home.”

BBC Asian Network Breakfast host, Nikita Kanda says: “Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas is such a special time for many people to celebrate with their friends and family, bringing positivity and lightness into their homes.

“I intend to bring good vibes to kick off the party and weekend of celebrations on my breakfast show with superstar Bollywood singer Nikhita Gandi co-hosting with me, playing some of her biggest Diwali hits and telling us about how she celebrates with some of her favourite foods. Two Nikita’s is better than one!”