Light My Fire: Diwali on the Square Hits London this Sunday

October 14, 2011 at 2:00 PM | by Heidi Atwal | Comments (0)

Ooh, pretty! Trafalgar Square gets atmospheric with this Sunday's day-long Diwali celebration.

Though Paris owns the nickname "City of Light," London will give the city a run for its money this Sunday when the annual Diwali on the Square festival hits the city. Diwali, otherwise known as the "Festival of Lights," is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and others wanting to partake in the illuminated holiday activities.

This Sunday's day-long affair provides Londoners and those who happen to be in town the opportunity to explore the richness of Indian culture without having to trek to the subcontinent.

On the docket for Sunday's celebration in Trafalgar Square are variety performances from Bollywood dance crews and others, a grand opening ceremony, the singing of traditional songs, and the chance to feast on vegetarian delicacies in the food court. If the revered reputation of London's Indian culinary scene is any indication, you can expect some seriously amazing small plates at reasonable prices. Get to the Square early enough and you might be one of the lucky ones to snag a complementary sari to boot.

For more information on Diwali on the Square, click here. Admission to the festival is free, making it perfect for budget travelers looking for cultural immersion on the cheap. And of course, there will be plenty of lights strewn about to set the mood. With the sun setting earlier in London these days, you may want to pull a Corey Heart and wear your sunglasses at night as the festival comes to a close.

[Photo: SPakhrin, via Flickr]

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