Finding Diwali… Celebrating good over evil, light over dark

Diwali, a festival observed in the Hindu, Jain and Sikh religions, is a time to celebrate good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and light over darkness, writes Joe Marshall.

On October 22, The National Maritime Museum will be hosting their annual festivities, under the title Finding Diwali.

Parle Patel will be compare during a series of live performances.

Among those taking to the stage will be singer, electronic rock sitarist, composer and producer Bishi.

She has a cross cultural sound and aesthetic, ideally suited to Finding Diwali.

Meanwhile, choreographer Usher Jey will be teaching his Hybrid Bharathanatntym brand of dance, fusing classical moves with hip-hop.

A variety of workshops are on offer. You can make a Diya-style lantern holder for the closing parade or a rice shaker for the flash mob.

Stuthi Ramesh Design Studio will be inviting people to try their hand at a modern take on the Indian folk art rangoli.

The Cosmic Goddess set up gives people the opportunity to make goddess-inspired jewellery with Anisha Parmar.

Elsewhere, chef Mira Manek will share Diwali food rituals from her book Prajna, and Mehala Ford of Friday Sari Project Store will teach modern sari drape and styling.

Temple of Incense will showcase Diwali scent rituals.

A number of multimedia online resources are available. You can learn about the lifestyle of composite 19th century London dock worker Raj Fernandes.

There are performances by Bollywood fusion troupe Epika Dance and footage of a big Art Attack-style rangoli being created on the floor of the National Maritime Museum.

There are tutorials on how to make a hanging rangoli decoration, believed to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth into your home.

You can also browse historical Indian objects from the Royal Museums Greenwich collection, and listen to a podcast by with Hansika Jethnani, a queer poet and activist of Indian heritage.

Diwali Zine is a special publication created by Anju Kasturiraj, the community facilitator for the Migrations, Heritage and Belonging project at Royal Museums Greenwich.

It’s made up of submissions from South Asian communities around the world.

The main event, a late evening lantern parade through the museum grounds, promises a powerful spectacle of ritual and tradition.

Through a rich programme of activities and events, the museum said it aims to broaden understanding across cultures.

 

Pictured: Scenes from a previous Diwali – Pictures: National Maritime Museum