I celebrated Diwali on Birmingham's Soho Road and had to break my diet - here's what to eat

Before I head to Soho Road I was starving for lunch and planned to whip up a boring sandwich when I returned. I had no idea I'd have a luscious feast on the buzzing Birmingham high street.

Diwali is finally here, despite confusion over the start date due to astronomical reasons I am clueless on. As a result, it will be a two-day celebration and no road has a better atmosphere for the celebrations than Soho Road, Handsworth.

A paradise for South Asian business, families bustled down the street in fabulous outfits and shopping bags filled with decorations. Indian music filled the air and the sizzle of fresh jalebis enticed queues of drooling customers.

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There is a joyful aura, especially after the disappointment of the cancelled Diwali Mela, which business owners called 'the best day of the year for business'. Retailers have clearly bounced back however with customers filing in and out of shops like marching ants.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker joined myself and Soho Road BID for lunch at Chennai Parotta. It was my first time trying South Indian food and we started with a Medu Vada which was a soft, fresh fritter filled with spices.

It was like an extra flavourful donut and broke apart like a cloud, I dipped it in some lovely coconut chutney making for a dreamy bite that made me close my eyes with satisfaction. We also gorged on some Kesari which is a semolina sweet dish that soften the taste buds after the spices.

I ended my meal with a succulent Murtabakz, a stuffed pancake filled with chicken, cheese and spices. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, so many flavours rained on my taste buds.

The staff were quick and happily explained each dish to us, owner Irfan Kamarouzamane praised the uniqueness of South Indian cuisine with pride. Richard Parker who received flowers from Irfan, said: "It is an important occasion and I have been here a number of times during my campaign.

"I always praise the work they do on Soho Road and it is great to be here. It attracts small businesses and I know people shop here from all over the UK which is fantastic, I want to replicate the success of this high street across the West Midlands. Bandi Chhor Divas and Happy Diwali."

Bandi Chhor Divas refers to the Sikh celebration of the imprisonment of Guru Hargobind in Gwalior Fort and his release in 1619, alongside 52 princes imprisoned with him. I learnt that phrase along with the mayor, highlighting the diversity of faith across Diwali.

It is not just a Hindu celebration but recognised by Sikhs, Hindus and Jains who bring their own cultural spin to the festival. Soho Road welcomes restaurants and businesses with roots from South India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka or anyone from the South Asian diaspora.

I then followed a melodious voice in the air to C&S Homestore owned by man of a thousand smiles, Gurmit Beghal. The business owner operated like a DJ on the store front belting Bollywood tunes to the public, glittering lights swathed his store as customers filled it to the brim.

A family business, it is one of the oldest on Soho Road having celebrated it's 50th anniversary. I was dazzled by the carnival of colours inside from Diwali decorations, golden pots and statuettes of Hindu deities Ganesha and Lakshmi.

Gurmit said: "We now have business for two days! Diwali is like waiting for Christmas because sales increase but it is a celebration of the festival of light and bringing the new in the home, and getting rid of the old.

"We need to do that sometimes, restructure ourselves and bring some positivity. We are alive so let's have some fun. We were disappointed about the Mela but you have to carry on like we did with Covid. We adapt and next year will be better than ever.

"Smaller business thrive because we have the Hindu, Sikh and Muslim community that will celebrate their own festivals which brings in revenue."

Gurmit grabbed the mic and serenaded me with 'Tujhe Dekha To Ye Jana Sanam' - the ultimate Bollywood love song. I squeezed my eyes in fear and forced a smile whilst trying to get away. Oh Gurmit, you happy go lucky chap.

I then grabbed a hot, fresh jalebi dripping in oil and sugary syrup from a jalebi stand. This towers over packaged jalebi boxes any day - each bite was like a sharp snap and I was still licking syrup off my lips minutes after.

I bumped into shoppers Gurpreet Singh, his wife Rajdeep Kaur and daughter Kimren Kaur. Gurpreet, 40, who went to Soho Road everyday at one point said: "We are doing it tomorrow but we will be participating today, might as well.

"We come here quite often and have great memories of here from the 80s and 90s. Soho Road caters for all and a couple of my friends have a shop here, we spend the same amount of money for Diwali but I can understand now adjustments have to be made for some (cost of living)."

I ended the day having a lovely chat with owners of Chandni Chowk, another family run restaurant. Owner Pash Chort revealed how yesterday's budget would affect small businesses greatly, including the minimum wage increases.

They generously gave me a Indian sweet box - a sweet, culinary finale to my festival of lights.