Thousands of people poured into Bolton one weekend in March, 1982, to take part in the biggest Hindu celebrations ever seen in the town.

The occasion was organised to mark the official re-opening of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad centre in Chorley Old Road.

The building had formerly stood as St Barnabas Church, and had undergone a recent conversion.

Work had taken more than three years and was carried out at a cost of £90,000.

The photograph shows Hindu women in the procession.