A THIRTY-FOOT effigy of a multi-headed daemon was sent up in flames by youngsters at the weekend.

Thousands of people gathered to enjoy an evening of song and dance in a Hindu celebrations of good triumphing over evil.

Dussehra is one of the biggest festivals in the Hindu calendar and people from around the country attended the Bolton Indian Sports Club for another year of festivities on Saturday night.

Bolton Hindu Forum (BHF) project development officer Paras Agravat said: "It went really well, it was really successful.

"We were a bit worried about the weather at first but we were lucky as the rain cleared in the evening.

"Around 1,000 people attended and we had a stall from Diabetes UK.

"We have four Hindu youth groups in Bolton and a child from each group dressed as a god for a procession."

The event has been compared to the celebrations of Guy Fawkes night.

A significant celebration on the Hindu calendar which coincides with nine days of dancing, see a 30-foot-high effigy of the demon Ravana being set on fire.

Dussehra marks the end of the 10-day battle where Lord Ram defeated the 10-headed daemon.

Attended by Bolton mayor and mayoress Roger and Jaleh Hayes, the festival featured performances of song and dance, including Bollywood and traditional Indian dance, as well as a talk from NHS Blood and Transplant – which is encouraging people from the Asian community to sign up as donors.

There were also craft and art stalls such as diwali candles and henna painting.

To light the bonfire the young children from the youth groups took part in a lantern parade around the club, dressed as Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman, before 10-year-old Darsh Hirani from SKS Swaminarayan Temple in Adelaide Street – dressed as Lord Ram – pretended to fire an arrow at the daemon and it was set alight.

This year's event was led by the BHF women's committee and with the support of members of the town’s Hindu community, including its six temples and the Bolton Interfaith Council.