Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery in Ealing, London, came alive with colour, rhythm, and creativity as visitors gathered to mark this year’s South Asian Heritage Month theme, Roots to Routes. Pitzhanger’s special Thursday Late event offered a vibrant mix of food, conversation, dance, and art, creating a space for communities to connect and celebrate.
A highlight of the evening was a live recording of The Migration Menu podcast, where Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, London’s Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, joined Dr Luke Heslop, Professor James Staples, and acclaimed British-Bengali chef Sohini Banerjee. The panel discussed the deep links between South Asian food, memory, and migration.
She also shared a personal story, recalling her first memory of dining out at the age of 16. Growing up in Brent as a second-generation person of Caribbean heritage, her family rarely ate out due to limited finances. “It was with my family to a restaurant serving South Asian cuisine,” she said. “I remember the white tablecloths and cutlery, and since then I have always associated going out for a curry as being a special, almost ceremonial occasion.”
Ealing-based creative Jess Au, Director of the 2B or Not 2 B Collective, also reflected on the importance of the venue. “I moved into the area a year ago and thought, ‘What an amazing venue,’ so I reached out to Pitzhanger. Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery is a very important cultural landmark. It allows communities to congregate, and brings us all together to celebrate different cultures. This is a very South Asian part of London, so it’s very fitting to have this kind of event here. I’m glad to be part of it, platforming South Asian heritage.
The evening’s activities spanned the Manor and Gallery. Two life drawing sessions, facilitated by Au alongside fellow Ealing native Isher Dhiman—who was born in the borough and attended Greenford High School—invited visitors to capture the elegance of classically trained dancers Mithun Gill and Nandita Shankardass. Moving through expressive poses, the dancers engaged with Mirror, Mirror, the current exhibition by artist Permindar Kaur, adding a dynamic, live element to the display. Meanwhile, outside Sir John Soane’s elegant manor house, a free Bhangra workshop led by dancers Prabhgun and Harleen from Hayes and Mankirat from Southall, encouraged participants of all ages to move with joy.
Mirror, Mirror and this evening Lates were supported by a National Lottery Project Grant from Arts Council England, enabling the celebration to bring together artists, performers, and audiences from across West London in honour of South Asian heritage.
The exhibition ‘Unsung Heroes of World War I’ featured historical artifacts, photos and news clippings on the Asian (Indian, Nepalese Bangladeshi – the Indian subcontinent, along with Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesian soldiers in WW1, as well as other moments in South Asian history.
As the saying goes, “Like mother, like daughter.” In the case of creative talents, this couldn’t be more true. The influence of a mother’s creativity can leave a lasting impact on her children, shaping their own artistic endeavours and passions. In this journal I explore the profound impact my mother’s creative legacy has influenced me and how Sohavi was truly born. Roots to routes explores my late mothers life journey from birth in Kenya to India as a teenager and eventually returning to Kenya in her 20’s , to marry my father Sardar Tirlochan Singh Dhamu, to emigrate to London from Nairobi in October 1973 and live out the rest of her life. Despite experiencing loss and trauma, she endured difficulties n her younger years and made the best of her life in my fathers trusting hand, he led her to a new life in London.
As an update from my last article, I can say that the past year has been both adventurous and fulfilling. I’ve faced a mix of opportunities
South Asian Heritage Month dates changed to "July" from 2026 — Learn more here →
