A riverside Diwali festival is coming to Greenwich next month with a host of events to celebrate.
The Hindu festival of Diwali falls this year on October 31 and is a celebration of light over darkness, with plenty of festivals and events popping up across the capital to mark the festivities.
Joining the celebrations, Greenwich Peninsula has announced a Diwali festival on November 2, with a full line-up of events from dance and performance to food.
Greenwich Peninsula has announced a Diwali festival on November 2, with a full line-up of events from dance and performance to food. (Image: Kris Humphreys Photography) With family fun for all ages, the event will encompass various elements of Diwali celebrations from lantern making to temporary tattoos.
Running from 12pm – 9pm, the event will kick off with DJ performances running all day from 1pm, featuring a line-up of DJs curated by Rohan Rakhit playing a diverse mix of Asian music, taking place in the Canteen Food Hall.
If you fancy getting creative, there will also be a chance to join a lantern making workshop for £5 at the Firepit Art Gallery between 1pm and 4:30pm, where you’ll learn how to make a Diwali lantern with the help of artist Pragya Kumar, with participants able to join the riverside lantern parade between 6pm and 7pm.
If you fancy getting creative, there will be a chance to join a lantern making workshop for £5 at the Firepit Art Gallery. (Image: Kris Humphreys Photography) Guests can also try out a temporary tattoo if they stop by Heavenly Henna in the Now Gallery, where you can get a plant-based henna tattoo for just £5.
You can also catch dance and music performances with Akademi Dance Performances, taking place in the Clod Ensemble between 1pm and 4:30pm, and Dhol Drumming shows taking place at the Canteen Courtyard between 5:30pm and 5:45pm.
If you get hungry, you can also find a huge selection of Asian foods at the Canteen Food Hall and Bar, with six vendors serving a selection of street food dishes, as well as the bar with a selection of cocktails, wines and craft beers.
Guests can also try out a temporary tattoo if they stop by Heavenly Henna in the Now Gallery. (Image: Kris Humphreys Photography) But if tea’s more your thing, you can also sample a cup of freshly brewed chai whilst you learn about the history of this drink so popular in parts of Asia, at the Bureau Courtyard between 4pm and 8pm.
The event will finally conclude with a riverside lantern parade starting at the Firepit Art Gallery, where lantern makers can join with local school students who have also made their own lanterns, in a dazzling display lighting up the River Thames through the Design District and across the Peninsula.
The event will finally conclude with a riverside lantern parade starting at the Firepit Art Gallery. (Image: Kris Humphreys Photography) Laura Flanagan, Director at Greenwich Peninsula, said: “Community has always been at the heart of everything we do at Greenwich Peninsula, and we have embraced the power of that community this Diwali for a unique celebration of South Asian culture right by the river, with contributions from our many residents, local schools, and on-site artist collective Firepit.
“The riverside lantern parade is a unique opportunity for everyone to come together, share their creations and celebrate the Festival of Lights, against a backdrop of South Asian-inspired food, drinks, and music.“