Hundreds of guests from across the North West turned out at Lancashire’s biggest Diwali party.

The Consul General of India joined the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen at the event held at the Grand Venue in Hamilton Street over the weekend.

The annual event marks the Hindu festival of lights and was organised through a partnership between the Blackburn Hindu Centre and Saffron Group.

JP Morgan was the headline sponsor this year but the event is supported by local businesses both large and small.

People of all faiths, backgrounds and diversities were invited to come together to celebrate ‘an evening of fun and laughter’.

Headlining the event were Bhangra legends Sahara UK who played some of their greatest hits as well as famous bhangra tunes through the ages.

The packed evening began at 5.30pm with a spectacular fireworks display from Fireworks Northwest.

The Indian Consul General, Dr Venkatachalam Murugan had travelled from Birmingham and was garlanded on stage alongside special guests and sponsors of the event, including the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Cllr Brian Taylor.

There was the traditional lighting of the candles and before lead organiser Ram Gupta welcomed guests to the event and thanked people for helping to make the dinner

Sahara UK got everyone on their feet including community worker Amrit Kaur (Image: Jon Thompson) The dancers from the Abhi Dance studio, the Socharo Dance Group and singer Gemma Doyle enthralled audiences through the evening.

Following the sumptuous meal, Sahara UK took to the stage to play out the evening with some of the biggest Bhangra hits of the past three decades. 

The crowd danced late into the evening with Mayor Cllr Taylor also taking part in the festivities.

The annual event supports local charities and guests from different cultures and backgrounds are invited onto the stage for their popular 'dance off'.