by Graham Tutthill

The Diwali Festival of Lights was celebrated in colourful style at the Ramada Hotel at Whitfield on Saturday October 17 with more than 200 people travelling from all over Kent to take part.

It was the second year that the hotel had staged an event to mark Diwali, which is one of India’s most vibrant festivals, marking the dawn of Ammavaasa in the month of Kartik. It is a five-day long Hindu festival signifying the victory of good over evil.

The hotel had been decorated with candles and flowers, in keeping with the theme of the festival, and some of the staff took the opportunity to swap their usual uniforms for more traditional Indian costume.

The evening started with fireworks and once inside the marquee guests enjoyed a wide range of Indian food.

They were also treated to a display of Bollywood dancing by the Dancing Nikita Company from London.

Founder and artistic director Nikita Thakrar led her dancers in a series of classical and modern dances, and then gave guests a chance to learn some of the traditional moves.

That resulted in some enthusiastic and energetic dancing by people attending, with the music going on late into the night.