Celebrating Diwali at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge

Last month Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge was transformed for Diwali with sparkling lights and candles. We were delighted to celebrate with patients, families, staff and our musician Shem Jarrold, who has been sharing live music with us in the South of England since 2014.

Shem spent the day filling the hospital with the soothing sounds of the Sarangi, a South Asian stringed instrument. The music in wards, waiting areas, and at a special staff event, invited colleagues, patients and visitors to pause and connect. Akua Obeng-Frimpong, Arts Producer at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, explains: “We bring live music to the wards and in the public spaces at Addenbrooke’s on a monthly basis. One of the things I notice is that it’s never expected.

That moment of surprise, curiosity and wonder I think is always amazing to observe. We’re not art therapy providers, but we recognise that there are huge therapeutic benefits to the work that we deliver. Music in itself can help to calm people, distract them from pain. Our Diwali event is really about acknowledging the diversity of the staff, giving staff an opportunity to take time for themselves, have something nice to eat, and participate in a creative activity.”

The Diwali celebration brought a happy and uplifting atmosphere to the hospital, with Shem’s live music spreading joy and a little extra warmth for the Festival of Lights.

“Music is a form of communication that doesn’t require language or a particular prescribed response,” says Shem. “So there are lots of ways to engage with it. I think it creates a space in which people have permission to communicate in non-standard ways. These events are much more immediate. They’re community based in feel, and there’s less of a divide between performers and audience.”

The Sarangi, known for its soulful, vocal quality, beautifully complemented the spirit of Diwali – a festival celebrating light, hope, and new beginnings. The sounds created a moment of cultural connection and reflection, warmly received by everyone who experienced it.