Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) will be hosting a ‘Finding Diwali’ takeover by CommonGround& to celebrate the Festival of Light on 22 October, in which visitors can connect with the themes of the festival through sounds, sight, touch and taste.
Diwali is the Hindu Festival of Light; the day is also celebrated and observed in the Jain and Sikh faiths to mark different events, stories and myths. The festival is an opportunity to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. It is celebrated with family, decorations, music and food.
The National Maritime Museum celebrates Diwali annually. The festival acts as an opportunity for visitors to broaden their understandings and engage with other cultures and families. The Traders gallery discusses the movement of commodities, knowledge and people across oceans, including the Indian Ocean. Celebrating Diwali as part of the regular programme of family activities allows the Museum to continue exploring the relationship between Britain and India and the sharing of cultures in the modern era.
For more information visit the website: https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/diwali-2021
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Performances
Parle Patel
Our host for the event is Parle Patel. Comedian, performer and presenter on BBC Asian Network.
Bishi
Live performance by Bishi – singer, electronic rock sitarist, composer and producer.
Daytimers DJ Set and Flash Mob
DJ Collective Daytimers play a set of contemporary music. Join their flash mob dance set.
Usha Jey
Learn to dance ‘Hybrid Bharathanatntym’ with choreograpger Usher Jey. Her unique version of classical dance fused with hip hop dance moves has been an internet viral sensation. Usha has recently performed at the Commonwealth Games.
Lantern Parade
Times: 17.15 meet for 17.30 start of parade
Finishing at the Queen’s House at 18.00-18.15
Workshops
Diwali Diyas
Diya’s are traditional light holders used in Diwali celebrations. Make a lantern for the Diwali lantern parade in the museum grounds.
Kula shakers
Make a rice shaker and shake it at our Daytimer Flash Mob.
Radical Rangoli
A modern take on rangoli design with Stuthi Ramesh Design Studio.
Cosmic Goddess
Make goddess inspired Diwali jewellery with designer Anisha Parmar.
Talks and Demonstrations
Food rituals with Mira Manek
Chef and author Mira Manek shares Diwali food rituals from her book ‘Prajna’.
Future Drape
Founder of Friday Sari Project Store, Mehala Ford teaches modern sari drape and styling.
Sacred Scent
Scent rituals for Diwali by ‘Temple of Incense.’
ONLINE RESOURCES
Meet Raj Fernandes
Meet Raj Fernandes, a dockworker living and working in London in the nineteenth century. Learn about the cargoes brought into London, the pay and working conditions along the docks, and Raj’s own story of life in London as a Lascar and the diverse communities he lived amongst in sailor town.
URL: https://www.rmg.co.uk/schools-communities/meet-cutty-sarks-dockworker
Diwali Performance at the Queen’s House
Epika Dance is an International Bollywood Fusion Troupe based in London recognised for their unique fusion of Indian Japanese and Hiphop styles. Epika stands for Empowerment, Passion, Inspiration, Knowledge & Ambition. Watch these three performances from Epika, filmed at the Queen's House, to celebrate Diwali. Performances include Bhangra and Giddha, Bhangra hiphop fusion and Kathak.
URL: https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/diwali-performance
Rangoli Demonstration
Watch a Rangoli being created on the floor of the National Maritime Museum by members of staff from the Visitor Experience team.
URL: https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/diwali-rangoli
How to Make a Hanging Rangoli Decoration
A Rangoli image stands for a sign of welcome. The main purpose of making Rangolis in Diwali is to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, to individual homes .It is also thought to bring good luck. Rangoli patterns are normally symmetrical and can be geometric.
URL: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/how-make-rangoli-diwali-decoration
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
Anju is the Community Facilitator for the Migrations, Heritage and Belonging project at Royal Museums Greenwich. She has recorded 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. It was created by Anju Kasturiraj, the Community Facilitator for the Migrations, Heritage and Belonging project at Royal Museums Greenwich.
URL: https://www.flipsnack.com/anjumariekasturiraj/diwali-zine.html