A SPECTACULAR dance display formed part of a colourful celebration during the Diwali "Festival of Lights" held at Beardwood School in Blackburn.

Blackburn Hindu Centre organised the festival, which also included live Indian music with modern songs, folk and bhangra dancing.

Diwali is a major Hindu festival celebrating the victory of good over evil, based on the Hindu epic Ramayana.

The word Diwali derives from the Sanskrit word Deepvali which means "Cluster of Lights".

It forms a five-day festival which includes the last three days of the Hindu calendar month Ashwin and the first two days of the first month of Kartik.

Diwali is the last day of the Hindu calendar year and is followed by New Year the next day.

During the festival, Hindus exchange sweets, visit friends and stage firework displays.

Ashok Chudasama, honorary general secretary of Blackburn Hindu Centre, said: "Diwali day always falls around the last two weeks in October and the first two weeks in November.

"The actual Diwali this year is on November 7 followed by New Year on November 9.

"Members of Blackburn Hindu Centre would like to wish all the people of Blackburn and Darwen a very happy Diwali and a prosperous New Year."

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