The Indian community in London is gearing up to celebrate Diwali, with a festive event scheduled for October 27. Mayor Sadiq Khan shared a promotional video showcasing the vibrant celebration of the festival of lights in the city. While many expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming festivities, some social media users responded with racism, urging the Indian community to “go back” to their home country.
In a post by Indian-origin content creators Akshay and Deepali, the announcement read, “27 October 2024 – Are you joining for the biggest Diwali Festival at Trafalgar Square?” The video opens with the message, “This is how we celebrate Diwali in London,” and features a montage of past celebrations, including dancing and singing by the Indian diaspora. Khan concludes the video by wishing everyone, “From my family to yours, Happy Diwali.” The event is open to the public and will take place from 1 PM to 7 PM.
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However, not all reactions were positive. Social media comments included phrases like, “Go back to India,” and complaints that celebrations of Indian culture were unwelcome. One user remarked, “That’s lucky. The English aren’t allowed to celebrate anything in case it causes offense,” while another expressed confusion about the event taking place outside India, stating, “We don’t want it in our country.”
According to an official statement, the Diwali in London (DiL) committee, in partnership with the Mayor of London, is organizing the Diwali On Trafalgar Square (DOTS) event. The committee consists of various member organizations representing a wide range of multicultural communities from India, all working together to ensure a successful celebration.
