The light fantastic: QE boys shine for Diwali on Trafalgar Square stage

Eleven QE pupils performed in front of more than 30,000 people for London’s Diwali celebrations in Trafalgar Square.

The 11 boys, drawn from Years 8–12, each portrayed various characters in Ramayana Musical Act as part of the programme for Diwali on the Square, one of the capital’s largest cultural events, organised by the Mayor of London’s office.

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is an important celebration for Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities. It symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic relating the life of Lord Rama.

The QE contingent made up more than half of the 20-strong cast for the performance produced by MAD House Production – a creative initiative by four QE parents, Abhinav Sahai, Deepika Banerjee Sahai, Mayuri Harish, and Priya Shivkumar, which was supported by the parents of all the other performers.

Speaking on behalf of the production team, Mr Sahai said: “The QE boys represented the School with remarkable poise, confidence, and creativity on one of the biggest stages in the city.”

“These young performers have done more than master choreography – they have embraced the timeless lessons of the Ramayana: courage, righteousness, loyalty, and compassion – and turned them into purposeful action.

“In the true spirit of giving that Diwali embodies, the children have also raised over £1,400 for Save the Children UK, spreading the light of hope not just here, but across the world.”

The performance was the culmination of months of dedicated practice and countless hours of rehearsals, where the boys balanced their academic commitments with artistic preparation.

“They thus demonstrated discipline, teamwork, and passion,” Mr Sahai added. “They not only brought the timeless story of the Ramayana to life but also created memories that will last a lifetime.”

“This remarkable feat stands as a testament to QE’s holistic approach to education — nurturing confidence, creativity, and leadership alongside academic excellence. The boys truly embodied the QE spirit.”

The QE performers were:

• Year 8: Atharv Shivakumar
• Year 9: Adhrit Dey
• Year 10: Rishabh Datta, Eeswar Manchikanti, Aaryan Prabhaker, Adyansh Sahai, Ryan Uppal, Pranav Yoganand
• Year 11: Aarnav Mahajan, Pranav Nayak
• Year 12: Shashank Pothuganti.

Click on the thumbnails below to view the images.