THE city’s first ever Diwali parade had tourists and shoppers dancing in the streets in celebration.

The event, which was organised by the Sanjhu Indian Association (SIA), saw Chester’s Asian community celebrate the festival of light in style.

The DJ Fusion drumming group started the parade from Chester’s Town Hall, followed by classical Indian and Dandia dancers. Children also played their part by carrying bells and candles. During the parade there were a number of colourful dancing displays. After the parade everybody was invited back to the Town Hall for traditional Indian food and workshops in candle making, henna, bindi workshops and rangoli artwork.

Sia also had a large rangoli on display which had been designed by Francesca Dunning, an Edinburgh College of Art graduate from Duddon .

Event organiser Sia Reetu Kohli said: “The rangoli is a traditional Indian artwork which symbolises good luck. Francesca designed it and marked it on the canvas and then members of the community filled it in with the coloured sand.”

“It was a fantastic event, I think people in Chester were really interested in what we were doing and enjoyed the displays and Indian traditions we brought to Chester.”

Reetu said she had a great many people to thank including CWAC, Cheshire, Halton and Warrington Race and Equality Council , University of Chester students and all those who helped organise the event.