A Bolton temple is set to celebrate a remarkable anniversary with a week full of great activities for all to enjoy.

Shree Swaminarayan Temple Bolton on Adelaide Street will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this autumn - from September 4 to 10.

The nine-day celebrations include a grand procession on Saturday September 9 through Bolton town centre back to the temple with the inclusion of the youth and community groups open to all to participate.

It promises live music, dancing, magnificent floats and a carnival-esque atmosphere.

The week will consist of religious sermons in addition to musical and cultural shows, led primarily by the youth as well as a night dedicated to encouraging women to take to the stage and showcase their talents.

Throughout the festivities, the temple will also be joined by civic faith leaders, Members of Parliament, representatives of the Met Police as well other dignitaries invited to the event.

On the first night of the celebrations, Sunday, there will be a smaller parade with people carrying scripture books on their heads bringing them into the temple and placed before the god.

On Monday night, there will be an event just for boys with plays staged, singing, dancing and other activities.

The main day will be Wednesday, September 6. In the morning there will be sessions including a purifying bath with the gods, and then there will be a flag ceremony replacing the old flags with new ones for the year.

In the evening there will then be a ladies night with plays, dances, singing and more.

On the Thursday there will be a mini event where one of the children will be dressed up as Krishna and they will be breaking a ceramic pot, symbolising what Lord Krishna did when he was a child.

On the Friday there will be a large cultural dance with attendees invited to dance in a circle all dressed up.

Finally, on the Saturday there will be a large parade through the town centre starting at Queens Park all the way through to the temple on Adelaide Street, a representative from each of the eight temples in the UK will be present at the parade.

Seema Varsani, member of the community at the temple, said: “It feels very exciting to be coming up to the anniversary, we are all really looking forward to it and if we can achieve as many people as possible coming to this event, it is going to be a massive achievement.

“Considering we are the first temple in the UK to be celebrating our 50th anniversary which is so exciting, it is a very proud moment to be the first to do this.

“Throughout those 10 days we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the temple and each day we have got different things happening.

“The atmosphere that week is going to incredible.

“The devotees and local community have been the backbone of this project.

“Women, men, young and old have donated their time and expertise on this event from providing labour, security services, delivery drivers, rubbish removal and catering for the workforce.”

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