Hundreds drawn to Navratri celebrations in Northolt (From Ealing Times)
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Hundreds drawn to Navratri celebrations in Northolt
11:34am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Local News By Priyal Dadhania
Focus on Northolt in Hindu festival
ONE of Europe’s biggest celebrations of the Hindu festival, Navratri, took place in Northolt this week.
The nine-night-10-day festival was held at Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community Centre.
Northolt had 700-800 visitors on weekdays and up to 1,500 people at the weekend.
Centre manager Shivlal Vekaria said: “It’s one way of making young people understand and diversify them in the knowledge of our culture.”
Shreenal Patel, 22, said: “It’s something I look forward to every year. It most definitely brings people together, not just for those with religious beliefs but those who appreciate a good night of dancing and a taste of the Indian culture.”
Women wore brightly-coloured chaniya cholis or saris, which mimic the latest Bollywood trends, and people laid offerings to the Goddess Durga and her manifestations.
The nights ended with a prayer for health and prosperity.
