Diwali at the National Maritime Museum

Dance and music performances

From traditional dance to participatory workshops, the museum will come alive with vibrant performances celebrating the richness and diversity of South Asian culture.

Eternal Taal

An all-female group of dancers, dhol drummers and DJs, Eternal Taal will bring the sounds and energy of Punjab to the museum.

Their programme will include a short Bhangra performance with powerful dhol drumming, followed by a participatory dance workshop encouraging visitors to join in.

Pooja Rajguru

Pooja Rajguru will bring traditional Rajasthani folk dance and Gujarati Garba to the festival.

The programme will include short dance sessions throughout the day, alongside a main performance.

Sweta Pandey

Sweta Pandey, Bharatanatyam dancer and practitioner of classical Indian dance, will perform as part of the day's programme.

Kiran SKG

Musician, sound therapist and practitioner Kiran SKG will create a Music Sound Garden with short drop-in sessions throughout the day and main stage musical performances.

The programme include:

• Classical instrumental music
• Vocal mantra / Kirtan with musicians
• Bansuri flute with tabla and Kathak dance

Nandita Shankardass & Co. / Welcome Movement®

Dance artist, choreographer and interdisciplinary facilitator Nandita Shankardass and two dancers will present a new responsive dance work inspired by Diwali, light and this year's theme, All Together Now.

The experience invites visitors of all ages and abilities to breathe light into the body through movement and learn and create sequences together.

Elements of the movement will then come together during the final Lantern Parade.

Creative workshops

Rangoli art workshop

Discover the beauty and symbolism of traditional Rangoli art in this hands-on workshop with Ekta Kaur of Story Beyond Lines.

Learn about the origins and meaning behind this South Asian art form before creating your own colourful Rangoli design to celebrate Diwali.

Lantern-making workshop

Design and decorate your own lotus wand lantern to carry in the festival parade at the end of the day.

Activities

Dress Up for Diwali

Step into the spirit of Diwali by trying on a vibrant selection of traditional South Asian clothing.

Whether reconnecting with cultural traditions or trying something new, everyone is invited to celebrate and capture a festive photograph.

Puppet show

Experience the epic story of the Ramayana through a short film with Story Hour Puppet Theatre, followed by an opportunity to meet the puppets and discover how they were made.

Diwali Storytelling

Enjoy storytelling inspired by Diwali and South Asian traditions by celebrated storyteller and cultural practitioner Debbie Guneratne.

Diwali bazaar

For the first time, the National Maritime Museum will host a Diwali bazaar, bringing together South Asian designers, independent brands, artists, makers and craftspeople.

Visitors can discover clothing, jewellery, accessories, gifts, home and lifestyle products, ethical and fairly traded goods, and products made by South Asian creatives working in the UK.

The bazaar will also feature local Greenwich-based businesses and makers. 

Gallery talks

Diwali will be celebrated across the museum, giving you the chance to discover stories of South Asia within the National Maritime Museum's galleries.

Warrior Women of the Sivaganga Kingdom

Journey into the heart of the Sivaganga Kingdom in the 18th century, a once-prosperous kingdom in Southern India, to uncover the stories of warrior women with Theeba Krishnamoorthy – a Tamil multimedia artist and public health enthusiast, with a passion for storytelling who has become devoted to platforming hidden voices.

Devi Mata Ahilya Bai, Queen of the Malwa region

Discover the story of Devi Mata Ahilya Bai, Queen of the Malwa region through objects and stories in the Traders Gallery.

Diwali Talks Programme

Worn Into Being

Hosted by Brown Game Strong

Worn Into Being is a conversation exploring how we embody the stories we tell about ourselves and our identities through what we wear and how clothing can also help us manifest who we want to become.

Hosted by Mitali Dargani, founder of Brown Game Strong, the panel brings together voices exploring dual heritage, identity, wellbeing, jewellery, fashion and belonging.

Panelists: 
Neelam Mistry - author, exploring dual heritage as a second-generation British Indian and the experience of relearning and reclaiming identity and a sense of belonging through wardrobes.

Namalee Bolle: author of The Mixed Multi-Racial Guide to Well-Being.

Anisha Parmar: jewellery designer and cultural practitioner.

Mehala Ford: founder of Friday Sari Project and COMMONGROUND& / curator of the Diwali programme.

A Diwali Story Through Food

Hosted by South Asian Salon

Food is central to the experience of Diwali, carrying memories, traditions and family stories across generations and borders.

SAS (South Asian Salon), a global, community-first platform founded by Ravista Mehra, will bring together chefs and food lovers to explore the different ways people around the world celebrate Diwali through food.

The conversation will explore the stories, rituals and personal meanings behind Diwali food traditions across different South Asian communities and diasporas.

• southasiansalon.com

On Creativity

Hosted by South Asian Creative Circle

Hosted by Nandita Shankardass, dance artist, choreographer, facilitator, educator and founder of Welcome Movement®, this conversation explores creativity through themes of wellbeing, care, creative flow, belonging and collaboration.

• nanditashankardass.com

Lantern parade

The day's celebrations culminate in a Lantern Parade through the museum grounds, accompanied by the exhilarating rhythms of Eternal Taal's dhol drummers.

Welcome Movement® will also lead visitors in movement inspired by this year's Diwali theme.

Starting inside the museum, the procession will travel into the park, bringing together the movement, music and lanterns created throughout the day.

Visitors are invited to bring along their handmade lanterns and join the celebration.

Diwali art and installations

Button Masala

Collaborating on our Diwali decoration of the museum will be a textile installation by Button Masala, founded by artist and designer Anuj Sharma. This artwork will transform the museum space using its innovative no-cut, no-stitch design system.

Button Masala uses buttons and rubber bands to create a flexible method of construction that allows fabric to be shaped, joined and reconfigured without sewing. The technique reflects ideas of adaptability, creativity and zero waste. 

Diwali Artist Banners

In 2025, the National Maritime Museum commissioned COMMONGROUND& to create a project to design their new banners as part of Ocean Court. Eleven South Asian artists were selected to create large-scale banners exploring themes including homecoming, belonging and light as resistance. These banners will be on display annually at Diwali. 

Festive food

Enjoy Diwali-inspired food and refreshments at the museum cafes throughout the day.