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Town marks 25th Diwali festival with parade

Katy Prickett
News imageWest Northamptonshire Council A close up of Shanti the giant bird during a parade in Northampton. It is a large puppet made of white cloth, with a bright blue eye and orange beak. People are standing about it and taking photos. West Northamptonshire Council
The parade began at the Fish Street junction of Dychurch Lane and Diwali lights were received at St Giles' Church, the Guildhall and All Saints' Church

Thousands of people have taken part in a town's Diwali celebrations.

Northampton's 25th Diwali Winter Festival of Lights was held in the Market Square and included stalls, food, entertainment and a magical light parade.

Large-scale puppets, including Harminder the elephant and Shanti the giant bird, joined schoolchildren and community groups during the parade.

Neelam Aggarwal-Singh, one of its organisers, said it had "grown every year from humble beginnings, to become a vibrant and inclusive community celebration".

News imageWest Northamptonshire Council A large scale blue, and gold puppet, light up, in the centre of Northampton, with a street light behind it, and a large building. West Northamptonshire Council
Diwali is celebrated by over a billion Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world

Diwali typically falls on the darkest night of the year and marks the triumph of good over evil.

Homes across the world are illuminated with small clay lamps, called diva lamps, in the hope it will attract blessings and invite prosperity for the year ahead.

News imageSara Kennedy Two smiling women, standing in Northampton's Market Square. They are wearing orange headdresses which have gold tipped pleats in a comb on the top and white embroidered tops. Both are wearing glasses. Sara Kennedy
The celebration has grown from humble beginnings, say organisers

The story of the Ramayana, in which Lord Rama defeated a demon called Raavana, is also told around this time of year.

Keith Holland-Delamere, Labour chair of the community services committee at Northampton Town Council, said: "We are proud to support the Indian Hindu Welfare Organisation with this significant and popular festival."

News imageWest Northamptonshire Council An illuminated large scale puppet, in the centre or Northampton, with crowds of people all around it. A tree has also been light up with lights. West Northamptonshire Council
The main procession began at 18:00

It was organised by Northampton Indian Hindu Welfare Organisation and supported by Northampton Town Council, West Northamptonshire Council and Northampton Town Centre BID.

News imageSara Kennedy Five women and one man dancing on a stage in Northampton's Market Square. They are wearing brightly coloured Indian clothing and are smiling and laughing. Sara Kennedy
The entertainment in the Market Square included dancing, henna painting and saree dressing

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