Wellingborough Hindu festival attracts more than 6,000 people
More than 6,000 people have taken part in the Wellingborough District Hindu Association (WDHA) Navratri garba and dandiya festival celebrations.
Visitors travelled from London, Leicester, across Northamptonshire and many other places to join in the event.
Navratri, the nine-night Hindu festival honouring the divine feminine, is marked with music, prayer and the traditional ‘garba’ and ‘dandiya’ dances.
The celebrations welcomed families of all ages and guests from every background, with more than 800 people gathering on Sunday evening alone.
Organised entirely by volunteers under the leadership of WDHA Chair Mr Vinod Patel, the association was founded by community volunteers in the early 1970s.
Councillor Raj Mishra, Wellingborough Town Councillor for Victoria ward and former Mayor of Wellingborough, attended the celebrations.
He said: “It was a truly uplifting experience. More than 6,000 people dancing garba and dandiya over nine nights, coming from London, Leicester and right across the county, shows just how highly regarded this festival has become. Everything was so well managed, and the community spirit was visible everywhere you looked.
“WDHA has done a fantastic job. Vinod bhai’s leadership is a big part of that success. To run an event on this scale, led entirely by volunteers, takes real dedication, and it shows what can be achieved when people give their time for the good of others.”
Wellingborough was home to the first Hindu Mandir in the county and the WDHA received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2025, presented in person by the Princess Royal.
Cllr Mishra said the festival reflected the role Hindu communities play across Wellingborough and Northampton.
He said: “Events like this are about more than celebration. They show what inclusion and cohesion look like in practice. The doors are open, everyone is welcome, and people leave feeling part of something bigger.
“The Hindu communities of Wellingborough and Northampton have always been there for the wider community whenever they are needed. WDHA welcomes schools to learn about Hindu culture, runs a community centre that has become a hub for the whole town, and this year hosted a ‘health mela’ bringing health professionals and residents together. That commitment to service comes from the value of seva, selfless service, which is shared by people of every background.”
He added, “Our towns are at their best when people come together. WDHA brings people together quietly and consistently, year after year, and they deserve real recognition for it. My thanks go to Vinod bhai, the committee and every volunteer who made this festival such a success.”