The first festival of Navratri Garba is a celebration of Maa Durga, the divine feminine, and the triumph of good over evil. The event involved vibrant circle dance bringing people of all generations together and symbolizing the continuous cycle of life and togetherness.
Also taking place across both weekends was the floral festival of Bathukamma which shows gratitude to Mother Nature.
Hosted at Whitburn Church of England Academy, the festivals saw hundreds of people from Sunderland and the wider Hindu community attend to enjoy music, traditional dance, and a “shared gratitude for nature and community spirit”.
Sunderland Hindu Community general secretary Harshil Shah, 29, said: “We had 220 people on the first weekend and 360 people on the second. It’s the largest ever gathering in an event hosted by the Sunderland Hindu Community.”
1. Sunderland Hindu Festivals
The Sunderland Hindu community has come together to celebrate two traditional festivals. | Sunderland Hindu Community
2. Colourful occasion
The events were both very colourful occasions | Sunderland Hindu Community
3. Gathering of communities
The festival was a gathering of several Hindu communities across Sunderland and the North East. | Sunderland Hindu Community
4. Traditional dance
The event involved displays of traditional dance | Sunderland Hindu Community