London: Anna Maria, a resident of London, has learnt how to drape the traditional Indian six-yard saree. The 28-year-old paired the Bengal Cotton saree with sneakers to make dancing easy for London's big Diwali bash.
"Namaste, Mera naam Anna hai, aapse milke khushi hui (Namaste, I am Anna and I am happy to meet you)," greeted Anna, who was among the thousands who had thronged to a packed Trafalgar Square to participate in the event hosted by London Mayor Boris Johnson on Saturday.
On November 12, the day India will celebrate Diwali, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in London's Wembley Stadium speaking to a large audience. Mr Modi will be travelling to London on a three-day visit between November 11 and 13, 2015.
The event was so packed - nearly 65,000 people by official estimates - that police officers had to refuse entry to many who hoped to make their way to the event.
The food stalls set up from virtually every state of India were not just a smash hit but completely sold out. "The dal vadas are delicious. Go run get a plate," said a happy Nadeen Mithani, a Londoner.
Mr and Mrs Farhat, an Iranian couple from Los Angeles, were thrilled to be amidst the frenzy. "Our culture and India's is so similar, so lovely I think. We hoped to travel to India for our honeymoon, but here we are and loving it!" they said.
"Namaste, Mera naam Anna hai, aapse milke khushi hui (Namaste, I am Anna and I am happy to meet you)," greeted Anna, who was among the thousands who had thronged to a packed Trafalgar Square to participate in the event hosted by London Mayor Boris Johnson on Saturday.
On November 12, the day India will celebrate Diwali, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in London's Wembley Stadium speaking to a large audience. Mr Modi will be travelling to London on a three-day visit between November 11 and 13, 2015.
The event was so packed - nearly 65,000 people by official estimates - that police officers had to refuse entry to many who hoped to make their way to the event.
The food stalls set up from virtually every state of India were not just a smash hit but completely sold out. "The dal vadas are delicious. Go run get a plate," said a happy Nadeen Mithani, a Londoner.
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Mr and Mrs Farhat, an Iranian couple from Los Angeles, were thrilled to be amidst the frenzy. "Our culture and India's is so similar, so lovely I think. We hoped to travel to India for our honeymoon, but here we are and loving it!" they said.
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