Beeston temple festival returns with 21ft tall chariot

The procession left Beeston Sri Thurkkai Amman Temple's West Crescent home at 11:00 BST

A Hindu temple festival has returned for the first time since the pandemic - with a 21ft (6m) tall chariot.

The Beeston Sri Thurkkai Amman Temple Festival is marking the 10th anniversary of the founding of the temple in the Nottinghamshire town.

The festival's penultimate day, on Sunday, saw the chariot pulled around the town, accompanied by music and dancing.

Spokesperson Sharmini Krishanand said: "We want everybody to join in."

Dr Krishanand said the procession left the temple's West Crescent home at 11:00 BST.

The chariot was accompanied by drummers, classical dancing and priests chanting Sanskrit.

The chariot was pulled around the town, accompanied by music and dancing

It moved along Roy Avenue, Meadow Road and Lavender Grove, before returning to the temple.

The organisers, who are from the Sri Lankan and South Indian community, later served prepacked food boxes to visitors - something they also did on the streets of the town during lockdown for those in need.

Dr Krishanand said: "This year is the 10th birthday of the temple, which is really special. Our kids have grown up with it."

She added everybody was welcome to attend the event.

"As a society, we are very diverse and we want everybody to come and join in and enjoy it," she added.

Organisers said everybody was welcome to attend the festival