Diwali On Trafalgar Square goes online-only this year

After 18 years, the annual Diwali On The Square event, in partnership with the Mayor of London, will be held virtually online due to a ban on large gatherings in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Diwali in London (DiL) committee has announced a free five-day online celebration, starting on Thursday 12th November. The event will be hosted online here.

Each day, various celebrations will be held with Dhanteras on Thursday (19:30 – 21:30), Narak Chaturdashi on Friday (19:30 – 21:30), Diwali/Lakshmi Puja on Saturday (10:00 – 20:00), Govardhan Puja on Sunday (12:00 – 18:00) and Bhai Dooj on Monday (19:30 – 21:30).

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said, “I am delighted that Diwali in London (DiL) Committee are putting on a virtual event to celebrate the festival of lights.

“Diwali is a special time of year for many Londoners of different backgrounds and an opportunity to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness. So while it is disappointing that we can’t unite in Trafalgar Square as we normally would, it’s great that we can join together in an online celebration.

“As the winter nights draw in and we continue to face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, Diwali’s unifying message of friendship and hope is more important than ever.”