Newbury community group Diwali event celebrates culture and talent

Families came together this weekend for the annual Hindu celebration of light.

Community group, Newbury Telugu Sangam celebrated for Diwali on Saturday, October 29, at the Phoenix Centre with around 35 families in attendance.

An array of talent was showed off with young people encouraged to perform songs, dances from traditional to Bollywood, and have fun with their friends.

The performances are hoped to allow the young people, aged from five-years-old to 16-years-old, build their confidence and social skills.

Later, they all enjoyed traditional food consisting chicken pakoras, naan, samosa’s, pilou rice, a variety of curries and even some traditional sweet treats.

The mayor of Newbury Gary Norman was also in attendance and stayed till the end posing for photos with attendees.

Hema Panchuri, who started the group said: “It was really a pleasure to have him around. I was pleased to see him there.

“We always encourage the kids to perform and show off their talent.

“The kids listen to stories of Diwali and they pick up our culture. I am sure it does help the parents and kids to hear about our culture and traditional customs.”

The event has been going on for around eight years and it is hoped that the next one will be even bigger and better.

Mayor of Newbury Gary Norman said he was "humbled" to have been invited to an event that was so special to the community.

He said: "I always feel like the ethnic community treat me like royalty, they all want photographs.

"They are terribly honoured to have me there but the honour is the other way around."

He added: "The food was sensational. They made me feel very special."