This is London’s biggest Diwali event and one not to be missed. Around 35,000 revellers descend on Trafalgar Square to celebrate the Hindu, Sikh and Jain Festival of Light, where you’ll find a sensory kaleidoscope of activities. Expect music and dance, delicious food, arts and crafts, workshops and more. The full programme for this year’s festival is yet to be announced, but expect it to be a vibrant affair.
The passing of summer might be disappointing in some respects, but it also gives way to London becoming alive with light. Come autumn, there are plenty of colourful light trails and installations to marvel at all around the city.
The Hindu and Sikh populations have been celebrating a festival of light far longer than any mega-watt Instagrammable pop-up, though. Diwali, which symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, is a major celebration in London with family-friendly events encouraging all to gather and take part in everything from dance to arts and crafts, and the sampling of delicious festive food.
This year, Diwali takes place between October 29 and November 3, but expect festivities to be popping off around the city in the weeks before and after too. The centrepiece of the celebration usually happens in Trafalgar Square – the largest Diwali event London has to offer – but you’ll find plenty of events to get involved with.
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