Navaratri Festival in Leicester
From the collection of
MACE is the strategic lead organisation for screen heritage for the East and West Midlands regions. An independent charity based at University of Lincoln, MACE preserves and makes accessible a collection of more than 100,000 historic moving images representative of the diverse cultures and histories of communities throughout the heart of England from the Lincolnshire coast to the Welsh border.
Navaratri Festival in Leicester
The divine power of women is celebrated by the Hindu community in a Leicester school.
Navaratri is traditionally a nine-day Hindu festival celebrating the victory of good over evil by the goddess Durga. As with many religious festivals there are a multitude of variations and, as this news story was recorded in October, this is Sharada Navaratri, which is the autumn version and the most widely celebrated. School liaison officer Lalita Parmer chats to reporter Malcolm Munro about activities that have been brought into Hazel Street Primary School in Leicester.
The Hindu festival of Navaratri being celebrated in a Leicester primary school.
From the collection
Custom Made: Festivals and Traditions in the Midlands
A tour of the Midlands through its annual customs.
Back in the 6th Century, the Midlands of England were known as The Kingdom of Mercia – ‘Mercia’ being an Old English (or Anglo-Saxon) word for ‘Border Folk’. The long, long history of this region has brought with it a wealth of annual customs and traditions that are enthusiastically anticipated and celebrated by its people. Their origins may be subject to academic debate and general speculation, but they survive year on year – strengthening a community's sense of identity, helping people define who they are.
In these films you will see Midlanders in an eclectic variety of settings - gathering together to worship, feast, and dance; play games, race ponies, and stroll through markets.
So, whether it’s a Hindu Festival or Sikh celebration, a flower parade or Goose Fair, come, be a tourist and explore the sheer diversity of the border folk of the Midlands.
10 videos in this collection
1
Caribbean Carnival in Leicester
5
Ashbourne Shrovetide Football
7
Navaratri Festival in Leicester
9
Traditional Village Games
10
Hare Krishna Parade in Handsworth
View full collection