THOUSANDS of people gathered at a Hindu temple in Ashton-under-Lyne as the community came together to celebrate Diwali with fireworks, food and festivities.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, on Lees Road, welcomed visitors from across Tameside and Greater Manchester for two days of celebrations.
They were marking the Hindu Festival of Light and the Hindu New Year on Sunday, November 8 and Tuesday, November 10, respectively.
The celebrations brought together people of different faiths and backgrounds, with a spectacular fireworks display among the highlights of the festivities on November 8.
The event also attracted a number of special guests, including Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner, Stockport MP Navendu Mishra and India’s Consul General in Manchester, Vishakha Yaduvanshi.
Ms Rayner, who is also Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, shared a message with those attending.
She said: “I am so pleased to be with you tonight and thank you so much for everything you do not just at Diwali but every single day as part of our Ashton-under-Lyne and Greater Manchester communities.”
Another highlight was the Annakut, meaning ‘a mountain of food’, featuring hundreds of freshly prepared dishes arranged as a devotional offering to mark the beginning of the Hindu New Year.
The food was later shared among worshippers and volunteers, while visitors were also able to enjoy a selection of vegetarian sweet and savoury snacks and browse a range of souvenirs.
A special ceremony was held to bless business owners, families and students, with wishes for prosperity and success in the year ahead.
Kinjalbhai Patel, a leading volunteer at the temple, said the celebrations provided an opportunity to share the values of Diwali with the wider community.
He said: “Diwali and the Hindu New Year reaffirm and strengthen values of goodwill, charity, and harmony across communities in the UK.
“As families continue to grapple with challenges, it was heartwarming to bring festive joy and smiles to the people of Tameside and Greater Manchester and share memories that will bring hope and light for the rest of the year and beyond.”
The Hindu New Year celebrations on November 10 were also attended by Civic Mayor of Tameside Cllr Helen Bowden, High Sheriff of Greater Manchester Mark Llewellin DL, Tameside District Commander Chief Superintendent Shan Nasim, and councillors Mohammed Shamsul Karim, Sangita Patel and Andrew McLaren.
The festivities concluded with a celebration of community spirit, bringing together families, worshippers and visitors to mark the start of a new year.