NORTH Cumbria's Indian community hosted one of its biggest celebrations of the year at the weekend.

Carlisle Indian Divas held a Diwali event at the White Heather Hotel in Wigton on Saturday evening.

The event was attended by nearly 200 people, including Mayor of Carlisle Pam Birks and Lord-Lieutenant for Cumbria Claire Hensman.

Diwali is a festival of lights and is one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, notably Newar Buddhists.

Dr Suchitra Choudhury, of Carlisle Indian Divas said: "The event was really nice. We had participants from all faiths.

"We had Christians, we had Hindus, we had Muslims. It was quite a mixed gathering.

"There was lots of good food. It was pretty fantastic."

The event started with candle lighting with Cllr Birks lighting the traditional diya candle.

It continued with a shloka.

This is a short composition in Sanskrit, the classical language of South Asia.

It was dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the much loved elephant god of Hindus, whose presence ensures good beginning and successful completion of projects.

Various dances followed, ranging from classical Indian dances to more modern Bollywood-inspired styles.

There was also henna painting, with Cllr Birks and Mrs Hensman wearing the temporary body art.

Their hennas would have been visible the next day, when they laid wreaths for Remembrance Sunday.

Dr Choudhury, a postdoctoral researcher on Indian things in nineteenth–century British literature and culture, said that this "acknowledges the way in which Indian culture and things have historically contributed to Britishness in hidden ways throughout the centuries."

Carlisle Indian Divas are an open group of more than a hundred people who believe that intercultural activities paves the way for greater connection between communities and cultures.

The members who organised the Diwali event were Mr Ram Dharmarajan, Dr VPrajna Jeganathan, Dr Rajyalakshmi Kothakota, Mrs Rashmi Manemi and Mr Vishal Kumar Singh.

Dr Kothakota said: "This is exactly the spirit of Diwali, to celebrate the happy and the good, and to look forward with hope even as the country and the wider world are struggling to face the heart-breaking effects of the pandemic."