National Maritime Museum to celebrate Diwali
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich will celebrate Diwali with a public festival titled ‘Illuminate’ on 25 October 2025. 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.
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
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
For more information visit: https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/diwali