Thousands expected for town's Diwali festival

The giant puppets have stolen the show in previous years

Thousands of people are expected to descend on a town for its annual Diwali Festival of Light.

It will be the first cultural event staged at Northampton's newly refurbished Market Square since its official opening.

The celebration on Saturday includes a light parade featuring magical lanterns made by school children.

Neelam Aggarwal-Singh, chair of the Northampton Indian Hindu Welfare Organisation, said: "The festival of Diwali lights gets bigger and better every year."

Two of the puppets represent Prince Ram and his wife Sita, characters in a Hindu epic tale

Northampton's Diwali festival, now in its 24th year, has grown to become one of the biggest in the area.

The event will start at 10:00 BST on Saturday on the Market Square, with henna painting, saree dressing and stalls.

There will also be live stage entertainment and food and drink.

Thousands of people are expected to watch the puppets parade through the streets

The light parade starts at 18:00 and makes its way through the town centre from Dychurch Lane to the Market Square.

Local school children will show off the lanterns they made during workshops supported by Northampton College.

The giant puppets telling the story of Prince Ram and his wife, Sita, which is central to the Hindu religion, have been popular in previous years and are returning for 2024.

Harminder the puppet elephant will also be in attendance, with all the puppetry being operated by Route Canal Arts and Rost Productions.

Neelam Aggarwal-Singh, one of the organisers, said the Northampton Diwali festival got "bigger and better every year"

Ms Aggarwal-Singh said: "It's wonderful to see so many partners coming together to make it such a great experience for everyone.

"I am looking forward to welcoming visitors to this special event back on the Market Square and joining the popular Diwali lights parade, which will light up the streets of Northampton town centre."

Anna King, from West Northamptonshire Council, added: "Diwali in Northampton is a true reflection of the wonderful communities we serve.

“It's a time for celebration and everyone can get involved in this most glorious show of lanterns and lights displayed through the story of Rama and Sita."