MEMBERS of the Gujurat Hindu Society gathered at their base in South Meadow Lane, Preston, to celebrate their New Year with a fantastic display of colour and prayer.

The New Year is part of Diwali - the festival of light and an important time in the Hindu calendar.

But Hindu devotees were not welcoming the Year 2000 when they gathered on Tuesday (Nov 9). They were celebrating the Hindu Year 2056. During the event, worshippers offer a magnificent feast, which is prepared by women at their home and brought to the centre before the festivities, to Lord Krishna.

President of the Gujurat Hindu Society, Ishwer Tailor, explained: "On this auspicious day we offer all the food which humans consume - cooked food, savouries, sweets and dried food - to Lord Krishna.

"We then say a special prayer to the gods, to ask them to continue to bless us with food.

"Once the food is blessed, it is becomes 'Prasad', and offered to all the devotees at the ceremony."

This year's celebrations were particularly poignant because the devotees said prayers for the victims of the Indian cyclone disaster.

And a special appeal, launched on the day, has already raised more than £1,000 to help the victims. The appeal will close on December 4, when the money will be handed to international rescue groups.

Mr Tailor added: "It was an emotional day. We were very grateful to everyone who donated money to the appeal. It is good for us to start the New Year on a high note."

A Diwali concert, held on Sunday, entertained more than 1,200 people. Local dancers took part in the three-hour extravaganza.

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