The time has come to take out your most beautiful clothes and get ready to officially celebrate the festival of lights, Diwali, on 31st October 2024.
Diwali, a religious festival that is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The name Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word Deepawali, which means “row of lights”.
Diwali is celebrated on a moonless night in October or November, based on the Hindu lunar calendar. The date changes annually. Celebrations include lighting oil lamps outside homes, sharing sweets, fireworks, and exchanging gifts. People also decorate their homes and buy new clothes. The 0festival is based on the story of Rama and Sita, central characters from the Hindu epic Ramayana. The story teaches that regular people can overcome evil.
For Jains, Diwali is the day when Lord Mahavira attained nirvana. For Sikhs, Diwali celebrates the victory of Guru Hargobind over Emperor Jahangir in 1619.
Now, on to the more fun part: Here are ten suggestions for Diwali events you can attend in London!
1. The London Ki Diwali 2024
The What: Dinner, Dancing, Traditional Indian Festive Food and Fireworks
The Where: Oasis Banqueting, 6-8 Thames Road, Barking IG11 OHG
The When: Saturday November 9th 7:00 PM to 12:30 PM
The Price: Early Bird General Admission £50+
Children under 4 is free
2. Diwali at Greenwich Peninsula
The What: Traditional Dance and Music. Adorn your feet and hands with a semi-permanent Heena tattoo, enjoy a warm and comforting Indian Beverage-Chai and craft your own lantern and take part in the Riverside Lantern Parade.
The Where: Greenwich Peninsula
The When: Saturday 2nd November 12PM to 9PM.
The Price: Free Entry, advance booking required, see website for additional details
3. London’s Biggest Ever and Most Luxury Diwali Bollywood Boat Party
The What: An unforgettable evening of vibrant lights, rhythmic beats, and joyous festivities
The Where: Dixie Queen, Tower Millennium Pier, Lower Thames Street, London, EC3N 4DT. The closest Tube station is Tower Hill, and the closest train station is London Bridge Train Station.
The When: Friday and Saturday 1st and 2nd November 7:30 to 12 AM
The Price: From £65.71.
4. Diwali at London Zoo
The What: Faithful recreation of a Gujarati village, visitors to Land of the Lions can immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of India for the Hindu celebration; wander through a traditional Indian high street, delicious street food, and colourful crafting (window adornments and decorative rangoli designs), traditional music, glowing diyas and colourful garlands and decorations.
The Where: London Zoo, Outer Cir, London NW1 4RY
The When: 29th October to 1st November
The Price: £31 pounds for adults on a weekday,
5. Diwali by Beeja
The What: Cultural activities, storytelling, music, dance performances, and delicious food, bringing the spirit of Diwali to life for all ages.
The Where: Stanley Arts, 12 South Norwood Hill, London, SE25 6AB
The When: 3rd November 2 to 8PM
The Price: £8 for adults.
6. Uttar Pradesh Community Association of United Kingdom Diwali Event
The What: Music, DJ, and Dance, Live Performances, Fun Games, Delicious 3-Course Indian Meal
The Where: Blue Room Sports Venue, Headstone Lane, Harrow, HA2 6LY
The When: Sunday, 03rd November 2024, 11:30 to 5PM
The Price: Free
7. The Ultimate Fireworks Showdown
The What: Dazzling fireworks, Mouth-watering food and Shopping stalls with treasures
The Where: Byron Park, Harrow
The When: Saturday, November 9th, 2024, 12 to 9PM
The Price: £10 for adults,
8. East London’s Grandest Bollywood Diwali Family Dinner and Dance
The What: Dance the night away with DJ Dalal’s ground-shaking beats! Experience incredible sound by EQ Events UK! Enjoy live performances by Epik00a Dance and more, Groove to the biggest bangers, hottest tunes, and greatest hits! A mouth-watering 3-course meal featuring the finest Indian & Punjabi dishes, Refreshing soft drinks
The Where: The Lakeview Marquee, East London
The When: 2nd November 2024, 6PM
The Price: Adults: £45
9. Diwali Dine and Dance
The What: Welcome and Starters, Mains, Live Music with Dinner, Bollywood DJ Night, Mehendi Artist, Festive Décor and Atmosphere
The Where: HICHKI 16-18 Whitechapel Road, E1 1EW London
The When: November 2nd, 2024, starting at 7 PM to November 3rd, 1AM GMT.
The Price: £35 for General Admission
10. South Asian Astronomy: Diwali Show
The What: A live planetarium show to celebrate Diwali, presented by a Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer, learning how the Moon’s appearance and position in the sky is linked to South Asian calendar systems, how this connects to the way the stars are grouped in Hindu astrology and learn more about India’s space exploration achievements.
The Where: Royal Observatory Greenwich
The When: Friday 1st November 2024 from 10.30am onwards
The Price: £10 for adults