Diwali is a major festival in the Hindu calendar, also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains, which celebrates the success of good over evil and light over darkness, symbolised by lighting many lights.
This festival has been celebrated in this country for quite a long time now and many Northampton residents will be familiar with the annual celebrations in the Market Square. I think this was the ninth annual Diwali event I have attended in Northampton, and it gets bigger every year.
I was very pleased to join members of the Hindu Community (and many other Northampton residents) to see the beautiful lamps, candles and lights being lit, and this time they even persuaded me to have a dance on stage!
Northampton is home to a wonderfully diverse society and I always enjoy celebrating this fact. I am happy to support people of any faith and religion (or none) in Northampton and I recognise the contribution that religious groups make in our community.