PRESS RELEASE
NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM TO HOLD ‘ILLUMINATE’, A CELEBRATION OF DIWALI CURATED BY COMMONGROUND&
©National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London | https://we.tl/t-fhtcqGvsUT
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich will celebrate Diwali with a public festival titled ‘Illuminate’ on 25 October 2025.
Diwali is an annual celebration in the Hindu calendar, and variations of the festival are also observed in the Jain and Sikh faiths. The National Maritime Museum celebrates the festival annually to encourage visitors to engage with other cultures and families, and learn more about the South Asian items in the Museum’s collection.
Mehala Ford, founder of South Asian arts platform CommonGround&, will return for the third time to curate the Museum’s celebration. The day will include performances, creative workshops, storytelling and a lantern parade around Greenwich Park.
For more information visit: https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/diwali
Performances and Parade
Bharatanatyam Performance
Hashna Siva will perform a Bharatanatyam dance on the Ocean Map. Hashna blends traditional dance with hip-hop and contemporary styles to reflect her evolving identity. For her, dance is a powerful language: one that expresses emotion, celebrates culture, and bridges generations.
Location: Ocean Map
Bhangra Performance
The UK’s leading all-female Bhangra entertainment team, Eternal Taal, brings the energy of Punjab to the stage with powerful dhol beats, vibrant dance performances, and unforgettable vibes.
Location: Ocean Map
Lantern Parade
The day will end with the annual lantern parade around the park accompanied by the exhilarating beats of the Eternal Taal dhol drummers. Visitors can bring their own lanterns or make one at the lantern workshop earlier on in the day.
Workshops and Talks
Warrior Women
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.
Puppet Performance
StoryHour UK will screen their puppet performance of the Ramayana story. Following the screening, they will show their puppets and talk to the public about the characters and how the puppets are made.
Location: Lecture Theatre
Storytelling
Listen to Debbie Guneratne’s charismatic and unique storytelling as she brings stories on themes of Diwali to life.
Location: Voyagers Gallery
Rangoli
Discover the beauty and symbolism of traditional Rangoli art in this hands-on workshop led by artist and storyteller Ekta Mody from Story Beyond Lines. Learn about the origins and meaning behind this vibrant South Asian art form, then create your own colourful Rangoli design to celebrate the spirit of Diwali.
Location: Learning Space
Dance Workshop
Following on from their performance, dance group Eternal Taal will lead the public in a dance workshop.
Location: Ocean Map
Lantern Making
Throughout the day, visitors can make and decorate Diwali lanterns that can be shown off at the lantern procession at the end of the day.
Location: Rethink Space
Dress up for Diwali
Step into the spirit of Diwali by trying on a vibrant selection of traditional South Asian outfits. Whether dressing up for the first time or reconnecting with cultural traditions, this is a joyful opportunity to explore, celebrate, and snap a festive photo or two.
Location: Figureheads, Ocean Court
Henna
Experience henna art with Huqthat, a creative collective inspired by the rich history and beauty of henna. Rooted in tradition and sustainability, Huqthat honours the cultural and ecological significance of the henna plant in every design. Their passionate artists offer intricate, hand-drawn henna art, creating a meaningful connection through creativity and heritage.
Location: Seminar Room
ONLINE RESOURCES
Home + Land Podcast
A podcast created by Mehala Ford, founder of CommonGround&, in collaboration with Royal Museums Greenwich. In this podcast series, Mehala and guests explore objects from the Museum’s collections and examine how they help them connect with their heritage and homelands. These discussions are personal reflections and responses to history, memory, and identity. Much of the material featured in this series was discovered, catalogued, and digitized as part of Unlocking Collections, a volunteer-led project.
URL: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/art-culture/home-land-podcast
How to Make a Diwali Lantern
Diwali is known as the 'festival of lights' because houses, shops and public places are decorated with small oil lamps and lanterns. These lanterns are generally hung in front of homes during the Hindu festival of lights. Create your own lantern this Diwali to decorate your home.
URL: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/how-make-diwali-lantern
India in Greenwich
From maps and boats to badges and portraits, discover some of the items in Royal Museums Greenwich's collections with connections to India.
URL: https://www.rmg.co.uk/schools-communities/india-greenwich
Diwali Podcast
A podcast in conversation with Hansika Jethnani, a queer poet and activist. Listen in to find out more about Diwali, religious violence, and queer interfaith spaces.
Diwali Zine
This special publication is made up of submissions from South Asian communities in London and around the world.
URL: https://www.flipsnack.com/anjumariekasturiraj/diwali-zine.html
INFORMATION FOR VISITORS:
Venue: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Date: 25 October 2025
Time: 10.00 – 17.00
Admission: Free
Visitor enquiries: 020 8858 4422
Twitter: @RMGreenwich
Instagram: @royalmuseumsgreenwich
Facebook: @royalmuseumsgreenwich
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The National Maritime Museum holds the world’s largest maritime collection telling stories of Britain’s epic relationship with the sea, housed in historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site.
The National Maritime Museum is part of Royal Museums Greenwich which also incorporates the Royal Observatory, the 17th-century Queen’s House and the clipper ship Cutty Sark. This unique collection of museums and heritage buildings, which form a key part of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, welcomes over two and a half million British and international visitors a year and is also a major centre of education and research. The mission of Royal Museums Greenwich is to enrich people’s understanding of the sea, the exploration of space, and Britain's role in world history. For more information, visit www.rmg.co.uk.
- CommonGround& is an arts platform founded in 2021 by Mehala Ford to foster connections amongst the South Asian diaspora and reflect the experiences of the current generation who share common interests as well as their culture and heritage. Mehala has had a 20-year career in the fashion industry, and for a decade Mehala has researched, observed and platformed emerging creative culture from South Asia and the diaspora through fashion, design, art, music food and writing.
For further information or images please contact:
Royal Museums Greenwich Press Office
Tel: 020 8312 6545/6789/6589
Email: press@rmg.co.uk