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Celebrate the spirit of Diwali at 'Illuminate’ – a family-friendly festival at the National Maritime Museum.  

Curated by Mehala Ford, founder of South Asian art collective COMMONGROUND&, this year’s event is themed around inner light.  

Enjoy free live performances, talks, workshops and a lantern parade on this day of creativity, joy and wellbeing. 

Festival Highlights:
Dance Performance 
From traditional dances to group workshops, head to our redesigned Ocean Court space to take in the vibrant atmosphere.

Highlights include a Bharatanatyam performance by Hashna Siva. Known for blending traditional dance with hip-hop and contemporary styles, Hashna uses dance as a powerful language to express emotion, celebrate culture and bridge generations. 

Don’t miss Eternal Taal’s dance performance and workshop too. The UK’s leading all-female Bhangra entertainment team, the group will bring the energy of Punjab to the stage with powerful Dhol beats, vibrant dance performances and unforgettable vibes.

Rangoli Art
Location: Learning Space
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 South Asian art form, then create your own colourful Rangoli design to mark Diwali. 

Diwali Lantern-making 
Location: Rethink Space
Design and decorate your own lamp to illuminate our festive lantern parade at the end of the day.

Dress up for Diwali  
Location: Figureheads space, Ocean Court
Step into the spirit of Diwali by trying on a vibrant selection of traditional South Asian outfits. Whether you're reconnecting with cultural traditions or dressing up for the first time, this is a joyful opportunity to explore, celebrate and snap a festive photo. 

Puppet Show 
Location: Lecture Theatre
See the epic story Ramayana brought to life in this unique show by StoryHour UK. After the screening, come and say hello to the puppets – and discover how they were made.

Storytelling  
Location: Voyagers Gallery
Listen to storyteller Debbie Guneratne as she tells stories inspired by Diwali. 

Henna Art 
Location: Seminar Room
Celebrate Diwali with intricate, hand-drawn henna art by creative collective, HuqThat. Rooted in tradition and sustainability, HuqThat honours the cultural and ecological significance of the henna plant in every design.  

Warrior Women 
Location: TBC
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, Theeba has a passion for storytelling – and platforming hidden voices

Lantern Parade
The day’s festivities culminate with a lantern parade through the Museum grounds, accompanied by the exhilarating beats of Eternal Taal’s Dhol drummers.