CityLife

Platt Fields to host Diwali Mela

Ten-headed Ravan

AUTUMN heralds the start of two of the most important religious festivals in the lives of Manchester’s Asian community.

And, for the past few years, they have been celebrated with a huge festival in Rusholme’s Platt FieldsPark.

On Saturday, October 11, thousands of people will gather there to mark the twin festivals of Dashehra and Diwali, which are marked by members of the Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities across the world.

Diwali, marking the start of the Hindu New Year, is the better known of the two and takes place some 20 days after Dashehra.

This festival commemorates an ancient good-over-evil battle between the 10-headed demon king Ravan and Lord Ram, a Hindu god incarnated in human form, whose battle to reclaim his wife Sita from the evil one was allegedly aided by an army of monkeys.

Both festivals are major events for the 200,000 or so members of Greater Manchester’s Indian community but around half of the visitors to the event are expected to be from non-Asian backgrounds.

Last year, the event attracted more than 10,000 people and many more are expected this year.

Organised jointly by Manchester City Council and the Indian Association, the Mela (festival) event starts at 3.30pm and carried on until about 9pm.

The action-packed day starts with lots of community stalls in the park offering everything from Indian food, clothes and jewellery to crafts and accessories.

Other events lined up to entertain the crowds include Henna and face painting, paper crafts and Indian dance workshops by community groups.

As dusk falls, there is a a lantern procession at 7.30pm and a spectacular fireworks finale which will be starting at 8pm.

The long list of entertainment live on stage includes some funky Bhangra music from the Jassi Sidhu band plus Bollywood-style music and dance as well as tunes from an Indian Wedding Brass Band, The finale event also includes the spectacle of fire shows and stilt-walking.

Throughout the day, a stunning 30ft high effigy of the demon king Ravan will be built with wood and hay by Manchester-based theatre company Walk The Plank – with an awesome array of fireworks inside.

As the day progresses, the excitement will be building up for the 300 or so children from schools all over Greater Manchester who will be taking part in the lantern procession just before the finale.

Throughout the evening visitors will be able to enjoy the traditional delights of a fun fair and do a bit of early Christmas shopping, or enjoy a mouth-watering variety of spicy Indian food.

The Dashehra Diwali Mela will be held from 3.30pm to 9pm, Platt Fields Park, Rusholme, just off the A6010 (Wilmslow Road) in Manchester. Car parking (£3) is available at the Platt Lane entrance to the park. On approaching the park follow the yellow AA signs. Admission is free. For more information go to: dashehradiwali.co.uk