The greatness of a culture can be found in its festivals. The South Asian community in the UK is a living example of multiculturalism, especially in regard to its festivals.
India celebrates almost one major festival every season, and countless number of regional festivals across the globe almost every month. Every community observes one religious festival, native to its culture and some of them are even public holidays in India’s offices, schools and colleges.
One festival that puts India on the global map is Diwali. From former US Presidents Barack Obama to Trump, and the diaspora at Times Square and ISKCON temples by the Association of Indians in America. Singapore also observes a public holiday on Diwali. South Asian communities in the UK, along with the Prime Minister mark the festival of lights in a grand celebration every year.
Indian festivals in the UK
One of the classic examples and the fondest memories of the British Asian community celebrating Diwali, the festival of lights, popularly also known as the Indian Christmas, is of the 10 Downing Street. Erstwhile Prime Minister David Cameron extended greetings to over 8,00,000 Hindus living in the UK and thanking them for their contribution to the country during his term in the year 2014.
It was reported that Diwali celebrations got a massive boost to Bollywood- style Diwali events across Britain during Tony Blair’s time. Cherie Blair famously wore a saree to a star-studded Diwali party hosted by a high-profile Indian businessman. PM Boris Johnson’s ex-wife Marina who is of Indian origin, is also said to be a great Diwali enthusiast. “Diwali on Trafalgar Square” has attracted hundreds of tourists over the years and is touted as the “biggest outdoor multicultural event in Europe”. Leicester is known for its Diwali celebrations and is also called “Little India”.
“Eid in the Square” at Trafalgar Square has grown to become one of the key cultural highlights of London's events calendar and sees attendances of over 25,000. Eid in the Park is a free event festival for people of all faiths inaugurated in 2006 and hosted by the Mayor of London on the first Saturday after the Islamic religious holiday of Eid al-Fitr which marks and celebrates the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at the Trafalgar Square in Westminster, London, England from 12 noon to 6 pm.
The Gujarati community along with the brothers and sisters of different faiths, celebrates the nine-day Hindu festival of Navaratri (nine nights) that symbolises the triumph of good over evil. Simultaneously, the Bengali community in the UK sets up Pandals and magnificent idols of Goddess Durga as Durga Pooja or Pujo.
Another festival that is passionately celebrated in the UK is Shri Krishna Janmashtami. From Bhaktivedanta Manor temple at Watford to Swaminarayan Temple and other residential localities inhabited by Hindus celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna with great preparations, joyous singing and dancing.
Vaisakhi, the Spring Harvest festival is also celebrated across the UK especially in the Hindus and the Sikh community in the UK. Prince Charles thanked the Sikh community last year for their contribution to the country during the pandemic and said “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh” while wishing “Lakh Lakh Vadhaiyan”. Universities that are home to Indian and other students from South Asia throw their doors open to students to celebrate the festival of colours on Holi.
The South Asian community comes together in the most secular and pious celebrations throughout the year, season after season to nurture the traditions of their roots in South Asia, taking the UK’s multicultural quotient higher every year with its beautifully orchestrated dances, prayer meetings, food service and fashion
