Town marks 25th Diwali festival with parade

The parade began at the Fish Street junction of Dychurch Lane and Diwali lights were received at St Giles' Church, the Guildhall and All Saints' Church

Thousands of people have taken part in a town's Diwali celebrations.

Northampton's 25th Diwali Winter Festival of Lights was held in the Market Square and included stalls, food, entertainment and a magical light parade.

Large-scale puppets, including Harminder the elephant and Shanti the giant bird, joined schoolchildren and community groups during the parade.

Neelam Aggarwal-Singh, one of its organisers, said it had "grown every year from humble beginnings, to become a vibrant and inclusive community celebration".

Diwali is celebrated by over a billion Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world

Diwali typically falls on the darkest night of the year and marks the triumph of good over evil.

Homes across the world are illuminated with small clay lamps, called diva lamps, in the hope it will attract blessings and invite prosperity for the year ahead.

The celebration has grown from humble beginnings, say organisers

The story of the Ramayana, in which Lord Rama defeated a demon called Raavana, is also told around this time of year.

Keith Holland-Delamere, Labour chair of the community services committee at Northampton Town Council, said: "We are proud to support the Indian Hindu Welfare Organisation with this significant and popular festival."

The main procession began at 18:00

It was organised by Northampton Indian Hindu Welfare Organisation and supported by Northampton Town Council, West Northamptonshire Council and Northampton Town Centre BID.

The entertainment in the Market Square included dancing, henna painting and saree dressing