Diwali celebrations at Trafalgar Square

Diwali is less than a week away. All that means in London is to buy some new clothes and make breakfast plans for the day. Yesterday, we went to Trafalgar Square and joined a sea of Desis for some Diwali lights. We were hoping for some food stalls, but that wasn’t to happen. Just some very loud music and school kids dancing. We were debating buying some clay lamps, but our almost-french windows don’t really have sills, and we have no idea where to put them. Maybe we’ll make do with some tea lamps on the table.

Under Nelson’s column, Diwali lights were flickering purple and orange. People swifting changing between languages, and babies wailing in the noise. Ganesha and Lakshmi close to orange colour. Lakshmi with her pointed nose. At one point, it felt more like the departure terminal at Heathrow than a Diwali celebration. But oh well.

In the middle of all that crowd however, the lanterns floating in the fountain made for a pretty and almost calm sight. The intersting thing is that the fountain was designed by Lutyens, the very same chap who designed much of the political lanes in Delhi. I suppose everything comes around. Lamps glittering in the water, the wavy reflection. Paper lamps – probably made in China.

I wish however, that Lakshmi would look a bit more benevolent or even smile a little. We left Trafalgar Square as the drone of beats and some outdated dancefloor music filled the space. Whatever we had come looking for, we hadn’t found it.