Diwali, Bull ring, 2022

On a dark evening in October, the rain did not damp the lights of Diwali. The Festival of Lights is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. Birmingham had a unique take on the Festival with the use of light puppets and dancers. The rain prevented the outside show but inside the Bull Ring the event still took place. As in all good performances there was a story to be told. First four beautiful dancers graced the upper shopping alley near to the Bull entrance. Their dancing was mesmorizing and the rhythmic moves were enhanced by a four piece Indian drum group. When the dancing ceased, a globe of light appeared followed by a light puppet. The “child” interacted with the dancers and was inquisitive about the globe of light.

Diwali, Bull ring, 2022
Diwali Dancers
Diwali, Bull ring, 2022
The light ball
Diwali, Bull ring, 2022
The Child goes on a journey

The procession of light moved through the bullring down to the lower level. Here the child puppet discovered a large puppet sleeping under a white sheet. Upon touching the large puppet, light was transferred waking up the giant figure. The adult light puppet enthusiastically moved around the large crowd that had gathered and watched the dancers move around him. Then it was time to say goodbye as the giant light puppet moved away. However the assembled crowd were in no mood to stop and the dancing carried on with the beat of the drums for a while longer. The event was entertaining and captured the spirit of Diwali as the photographs show.

Light is transferred from the Globe to the large puppet by the “Child”
Diwali, Bull ring, 2022
Performance on the stage with the audience around them.
Diwali, Bull ring, 2022
Beautiful dancing

The event was organised jointly by Birmingham Hippodrome, Bullring & Grand Central, dance group Sonia Sabri Company and Germany puppeteers Dundu – The Giants of Light. Thank you for putting on such a wonderful celebration.

Diwali, Bull ring, 2022
The light puppet
Dancing for Diwali

If you enjoyed this then please read the BBC midlands write up of the event.


Over the last week of January the Bull Ring area of Birmingham held a Festival of Light. There were several themed light shows and shoppers flocked to the display. There was a Chinese New Year display but I was unable to get to see that particular event. I did see the display over three nights on my way back from work. Taking photographs was not easy due to the number of people around the event and I was by myself. It did mean I could not do any particularly good selfie photographs. I took different cameras to the event and needed to rely on a high ISO as no tripods were allowed near the interactive exhibits. The light show also was either very bright such as the Neon Angel Wings or unpredictable in when the lights came on. It required a lot of anticipation on the part of the photographer.

There were five installations

Talk to the sky – This was in St Martin’s Square and similar to all the others was interactive in nature. When you talk to the lights your voice is converted into light and sound pulses that were sent up into space.

With Love – This was a bright red inflatable heart that senses the light, the temperature and the atmospheric pressure around it, and turns into a red heartbeat with sounds.

Neon Angel Wings – This installation was designed by the neon light artist, Carla O’Brien. It consisted of a pair of neon wings where you could get a selfie taken. It was a very bright installation and tricky to photograph.

Pulse – St Martin’s Walk up to Rotunda square had a series of circular structures that you were able to walk through. As you did there was an electronic sound track with a pulsing light

Birds Fly Around With You – This final light show in Rotunda Square was an interactive flock of birds. When you entered the circle then the birds starting to light up and fly around you in a circle.