DIWALI was celebrated with pomp by Northwich’s Indian community this weekend, with Mike Amesbury MP and his family invited to attend.

The Festival of Lights celebration came to a head at Kingsmead Primary School on Saturday night, with more than 130 people joining the festivities.

Traditionally a Hindu festival celebrated in India, it has gained global prominence over the years and is celebrated by communities across the world.

The celebration focuses on values of togetherness, sharing and joy, and a spiritual victory of light over darkness.

Mike said: “It was an honour and a privilege to be invited to speak at this fantastic event, I know my wife and son thoroughly enjoyed themselves too.

“Northwich has a proud Indian community that contribute a lot to the town, and it was great to see the event so well attended.”

Town mayor Cllr Alison Gerrard was also in attendance, with the night seeing dance sequences by children and adults and Indian food served by Kanya Cafe, and Nagendra Prasad from the cafe also sponsored the stage.

The town has seen a steady increase in the Indian community over the last few years and the event – the first of its kind in Northwich – finished with a bang with a firework display overhead.

n northwichguardian.co.uk