Diwali 2024 in London will be a memorable day to reminisce. Spent the festive day in Southall which is de facto the Indian heartland in London. Whilst strolling along the streets and not an Englishman in sight. Where have they all gone? I wondered. At Southall one feels one is walking around at Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, Lucknow’s Hazratganj or Linking road at Bandra in Bombay.

 

On the joyful day it was very heartening to visit Shree Ram Mandir, Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara and St. John’s Church. A Temple, a Gurdwara and a Church all located within a radius of just 20 metres. The icing on the cake was coming across the Royal Sweets shop, which incidentally was my very favourite haunt at Crawford Market and Bandra. In fact, last year while on a visit to Bombay, I was told that Royal Sweets had wound up its operations and moved to London. What a sweet coincidence to be able to savour on Diwali the delicacy of Royal Halwa after decades and that too all the way in England.

 

Besides being Diwali, 31st October this year was also Halloween which originated as an ancient Celtic festival and is fervently observed in the United Kingdom. The decorations in stores, houses and costumes are that of mythical monsters and pumpkins carved to make lanterns which is a common sight and children trick or treat in the evening. So, it was a mixed bag of celebration and an extraordinary day to remember.