July marks South Asian Heritage month which is an annual event where we celebrate the diversity, many cultures and languages, religions and histories of communities in South Asia. We also highlight the shared values and experiences throughout different communities as well as any links or connections we may have with each other. As part of the campaign which is arranged annually, we incorporate different groups through out India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives and Afghanistan, to see how we can connect any religious elements with histories through out South Asia. This helps us to look closely at anything we may have in common and see how we can live together in a more harmonious way.
Unity in Diversity is the theme for South Asian Heritage Month 2026, celebrating the extraordinary breadth and richness of South Asian communities in the UK and worldwide. South Asia is a region of extraordinary diversity: eight countries, hundreds of languages, multiple faiths, and millennia of shared and distinct histories.
This theme invites us to explore what unites us across these differences, shared values, intertwined histories, a common commitment to community and belonging, while celebrating the beauty and strength that diversity brings.
The event was first launched in 2020 and was cofounded by Jasvir Singh CBE and Dr Binita Kane, alongside organisations including City Sikhs, the Grand Trunk Project, the Faiths Forum for London and the Partition Commemoration Campaign. On the whole the event is aimed to commemorate, educate and celebrate by recognising the contributions that South Asian communities have made to modern day society. This could be through healthcare, business, politics, public service etc.
The dates of the occasion have changed through out time however the campaign continues to recognise the historical significance of the contributions that certain groups have made to the way society behaves and runs. There have been many significant occasions that have happened through out time that help to influence the way different societies behave and are run. This includes the independence of India and Pakistan, and Partition, one of the largest migrations in modern history.
Liverpool has one of Britain’s oldest and most diverse South Asian communities, with links stretching back to the city’s role as a major port. Migration from the Indian subcontinent increased significantly after the Second World War, with communities establishing businesses, places of worship and cultural organisations across the city region.
Potential Merseyside story angles include local South Asian-owned businesses, cultural festivals, schools marking the month, community organisations, faith groups, artists, musicians, healthcare workers, entrepreneurs and the history of South Asian migration through the Port of Liverpool.
As the UK’s leading Indian arts agency, Milap regularly holds performances and workshops around Liverpool. They help to tell different cultural stories that educate the next generation as well as the present one. This helps to give different communities an insight in to what happened during past events and how we can learn from them to make the world a better place to live in.
The community group has long campaigned to continue with the ethos of South Asian Heritage month and this helps to create a mission While there is no single, globally published quote explicitly attributed to Milap—the renowned Liverpool-based Indian arts charity—the organization has long championed the ethos of South Asian Heritage Month. Their mission centres on celebrating culture, promoting social cohesion, and bringing communities together, values that perfectly align with the national celebration.
This year’s South Asian Heritage Month artwork beautifully captures this message through the national flowers of the eight South Asian nations. The illustration depicts a joyful young girl dressed in a shalwar kameez, a traditional South Asian outfit, clutching her dupatta (scarf) as she reaches for dandelions. At her feet lies a garden of the eight national flowers, creating a powerful image of a shared garden of South Asian heritage. Together, these flowers represent both individuality and unity, a perfect symbol for a region whose diversity is one of its greatest strengths.
