Diwali Procession & Workshops

Explore one of the world's oldest stories, told traditionally through puppets, drumming and songs, and to discover the world of Rama, Sita and Goddess Lakshmi.

The event is being coordinated by Bankside Open Spaces Trust. Its director, Helen Firminger, invites everyone to "put on warm clothes, bring torches, make friends and share in the harvest festivities and seasonal celebration of Diwali, while demonstrating the triumph of good over evil across two of our much loved green places, Christ Church Garden and Mint Street Park."

Celebrations will start from 2pm at Christ Church Garden, Blackfriars Road with a welcome from community leaders followed by workshops.

"In many faiths, including Christianity and Hinduism, we dedicate times of the year to the renewal of our lives and of our faith. We seek to reflect on what has gone before and to reconnect with all that gives light," says Revd Tim Scott of Christ Church Southwark. "Together, and through the celebration of our festivals, we can increase our consciousness of the ways in which light can triumph over darkness and good over evil."

From 3pm the procession will comprise children from Friars Primary School and Johanna Primary School, together with members of the Blackfriars Settlement Older People's Project and the Bengali Women's Group will depart via Blackfriars Road making its way to Mint Street Park by 3.30pm. Events continue there until 5pm with storytelling, drumming workshops and dance performances.