The annual Diwali event organized by the Mayor of London was
hailed as a major success with people from all walks of life ignoring
the rain and cold weather to be part of the festive atmosphere.
Over 30,000 people attended the event held on Sunday, 28th October
at Trafalgar Square.
The square was transformed by magical light displays, floating
lanterns and a wide range of dance performances. The event also
featured a special guest presentation by drumming maestro Pandit
Dinesh and a prayer song by Maya Deepak.
The steady rain and chilly weather did not stop Londoners from
taking part in the Garba dance in the middle of the square while
talented young Bollywood dancers showcased their immense talent
in front of a cheering crowd.
The popularity of the event forced organizers to extend it to
eight hours instead of the normal four.
The B4U stall was once again the centre of attraction as loads
of goodies attracted serpentine queues throughout the day. “We
are absolutely delighted with the response we have got with this
event and it also gave us a chance to interact with our viewers”,
said Sunil Rohra, CEO, B4U NETWORK.
Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, who attended the event said
“Diwali is an important occasion for London’s Hindus, Sikhs and
Jains and represents the power of good to triumph over evil –
a theme that has relevance for all of London’s communities because
it signifies the value of co-operation and mutual respect between
peoples of different faiths and backgrounds .On this occasion
I wish everyone a happy and prosperous Diwali.”
Among the major attractions on the night were a display of Sikh
martial arts, a fancy dress parade, a sari wearing competition
and henna painting. Stalls at both ends of the square were thronged
by eager revellers armed with their brollies.
As the sun set, the grand finale of the event looked even more
spectacular with energetic dances and thousands of mini-lamps
on the square recreating the arrival of Lord Rama whose liberation
of Queen Sita from the kingdom of Lanka and victory over the Ravana
is what Diwali is about.
This was followed the most awaited moment of the day - a special
song for the event commissioned by B4U Network. The entire crowd
got into the groove as Shama and friends belted the foot-tapping
track, Diwali Aayi Re. The song is slated
to top the charts this Diwali.
The entire event was filmed by B4U NETWORK and will be screened
in the UK, USA, SOUTH AFRICA, MIDDLEAST, CANADA and INDIA on Diwali-November
9th.
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