London ushers in Diwali gaiety

Kayshinee Rye Ramchurn

Diwali on the Square received yet more resounding acclaim this year. Trafalgar Square was the scene of joyous displays of colour, light, dance and music on Sunday 19th October, with celebrations starting in the early afternoon and spiralling towards a crescendo towards evening.

Thousands of enthusiasts made their way to the Square early to book their own little nook be it a comfortable seat on the stairs or a modicum of standing room amid the fast-growing crowd. And were they rewarded for their diligence!

The official kick-off was preceded by an electrifying selection of Bollywood-inspired songs while hundreds of people took over the centre of the Square for a wholehearted attempt at the traditional Garba dance, as the rest of the crowd displayed its fervent approval through continual cheering and whistling. Highlights of this pre-event warm-up were the songs 'Khaike Paan Banaraswala' and 'Dholi Taro Dhol Baaje', which left the audience wanting more.

Diwali on the Square was launched just after 4:00 pm by the lighting of diyas in honour of Lord Ganesha, the symbolic release of white and pink balloons, and a round of short speeches by the Mayor of London, members of the Diwali in London Committee and the CEO of Barclays UK Retail Banking.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, professed his esteem for the Diwali festival for its diversity and appeal to members of every community. "These days when the shares have been falling like the leaves from the trees, we all need light in our lives, ladies and gentlemen. We need Diwali to remind us about the importance of family, and of giving and of charity and of course of the amazing contribution made by the people of the Indian communities to this city of ours," he said.

After being enchanted by a live performance of Jay Kumar's Diwali anthem song, Londoners were then treated to a dance extravanganza showcasing a fine palette of traditional dance as practised in different parts of India, as well as contemporary and fusion styles of dance.

Whilst the rapt audience took in this wonderful moving mosaic, a more adventurous throng was admiring the exquisite lanterns floating in the fountains and exploring the delicacies and treasures offered at the various stalls.

Club Asia Radio was very much present as some of its emcees hosted the event, but the big surprise came from Star TV when Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki lead actress Sakshi Tanwar made her appearance on the stage. Clad in a black sari, she was elegance personified as she graced the stage with her poised demeanour and sparkling smile.

As darkness started its slow descent over Trafalgar Square, nobody could extinguish the euphoria that was kindled at the mere mention of Raghav. The star stepped onto the stage under roaring applause that grew even more thunderous as he performed three of his best loved songs.

After energising renditions of songs from the movies Bhool Bhulaiya, Jab We Met and Bachna Ae Haseeno, the celebrations soon came to a soothing end at around 20 00. Indeed, members of the Chinamaya Mission concluded the event with the Aarti and a thought-provoking address.

As the crowd slowly started its fragmented journey away from the Square, boxes containing Diwali sweets were being given out with the promise of another gloriously colourful next year!