'We may be older, but we can dance for Navratri'

Women meet up at Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre to celebrate Navratri

In a community centre in Leicester, a group of women in vibrant sarees have come together to celebrate the festival of Navratri.

The Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre is among those hosting celebrations for the nine-day festival of colour, music and dancing in the region.

Navratri which started on 22 September this year, honours Durga, the Hindu goddess associated with protection, strength and motherhood.

Older participants said the centre was a safe space where they could meet friends, socialise and dance in the afternoon, rather than evenings.

This is the case for Sushila Tejura, 84, who contributed to the centre in Rothley Street as a volunteer for 40 years.

When Rajul Tejula sees her mum Sushila Tejura smile during Navratri, it warms her heart

A more relaxed Sushila joined the event now as a user, rather than a volunteer, surrounded by former staff, friends and family.

Her daughter Rajul Tejura said: "It brings a smile to my mother's face when she sees all her friends and all the people that volunteer here."

She said she felt "emotional and overwhelmed" seeing her mother's face light up when she was surrounded by current volunteers.

"This is basically one of those memorable moments to celebrate Navratri here with my mum - she was going round the sacred area where we do the dances," Rajul added.

"All these people who help out here, it's just a moment of pride."

Hindu women, particularly the older women, come and take part in Navratri in the afternoon rather than in the evenings when it is busier

Jasu Mistry, 76, said the thought the event would eventually come to an end made her fell upset.

"I come [here] every single day," she said. "I come at half past 12 and will stay until six o'clock.

"I look forward to coming here and meet all my friends.

"I live on my own and in fact on the 10th day I start crying, I get so depressed when it's over.

"My friend lost her husband this year so coming here has helped her too."

Kalpana Patel, from Humberstone, added: "It's lovely to see the old ladies come out between 2pm and 5 - Navratri is a cultural thing.

"It's also good for their mental wellbeing and the exercise that they get as well.

"It stops them from being isolated and it's in the local area. A lot of them can come here and can walk here and can get here very quickly.

''Today's colour was royal blue and you'll see the majority of women are wearing blue today.

"Real traditional wear, some royal blue saris, I'm wearing my sparkly jewellery and my bangles and earrings.''

Bharti Mistry, 64, has been coming to Navratri since she was young

Bharti Mistry, 64, from Oadby, said it was overwhelming to see so many volunteers willing to take part.

"If you look at it, every charity organisation wants volunteers, but here, people want to be volunteers," she said.

"Volunteers work on a rota, each one has a role to play during activities, somebody will be there to make sure everyone vulnerable is safe.

"In Hindu culture, giving selflessly to the community is really important, especially during a religious time."

She says the festival is also a chance for women to go shopping for jewellery and new clothes, and "dress up".

'Fun but spiritual'

On each day, worshipers will dress in different colours which symbolise one of the Goddess Durga's distinct characteristics.

Ms Mistry said it was "amazing" to see women, especially older participants, get involved.

"They may have disabilities, they may be older, but they can dance - and the nice thing is it's done during the afternoon," she added.

"Everywhere else in Leicester, most of the time, it is done in the evening. If you're elderly, you don't have transport.

"You don't want to go in the dark because then you could fall over, so this is ideal.

"You can see the elderly attend religiously for all nine days. They have done it when they were young.

"My mum is 88, and she loves Navratri - she will go to the temple no matter what. She had a hospital appointment, and she changed it for Navratri."

Matthew Vaughan, area development manager for the east part of the city operational management, said Leicester City Council organised the event for the women in the local community.

He said the event was aimed particularly at the older women, to give them a safe space to dance in the afternoon.

"It's a fun event but it's also a spiritual event for people," he added.