London Celebrates South Asian Heritage Month

From cuisine to pop culture, London's South Asian community has left an indelible mark on the city.

To celebrate and nurture the community, the UK is celebrating South Asian Heritage Month. As the Mayor of London's website states, the month-long celebration "seeks to commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories particularly the intertwined histories of the UK and South Asian communities and how South Asian cultures are present throughout the UK and indeed London."

The month began on July 18, the date that the Indian Independence Act 1947 gained royal assent and it will end on August 17, Partition Commemoration Day. 

Due to the current pandemic situation, SAHM 2020 will be conducted online and gives a unique opportunity for everyone to immerse themselves in this walkthrough various cultures.

There's a host of online sessions one can sign up for. From Mira Manek walking people through yoga breathing every Friday to panel discussions on the importance and protection of safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ to talks on fashion, festivals and food.  

days 4-8 of my a-z south heritage series with @OSCH_Mcr, @McrMuseum and @BritishCouncil pic.twitter.com/8bRRzE2vXf

— natasha (@natashahmedx) July 25, 2020

People can get involved with the month via SAHM’s programme of online events and their social channels. The hashtag #SouthAsianHeritageMonth will be used across socials: Website, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.