THE Phoenix Theatre was lit up with smiles on Saturday as the young people of Swindon’s Tamil community took to the stage to celebrate the Hindu festival of Deepavali.

Dignitaries from Swindon and beyond were invited to enjoy a programme of music and dance performed by local children and special guest acts.

Now in its 12th year, the annual Tamil Association event has become one of the most hotly-anticipated in the Swindon Hindu calendar.

Deepavali is another name for Diwali — the festival of lights — held in recognition of the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.

The name for the festival varies depending where in the world, and by which community, it is being celebrated.

Ram Thiagarajah, president of the Swindon Tamil Association, said: “Deepavali means ‘row of lamps’ and you will see that reflected here.

“Light plays an important part in many faiths and any Tamil celebration begins with the lighting of the lamp.

“Light is expansive and removes darkness — that is the significance.”

Among the guests at Saturday’s festivities were the Mayor, Maureen Penny, and South Swindon MP Robert Buckland.

As the event got underway, the pair were given the honour of lighting the ceremonial lamp.

But it was on the stage that the real shining stars were to be found as even the tiniest of children, dressed in fabulous traditional finery, performed songs and danced South Indian Bharatanatyam routines choreographed by teachers at the Tamil Sunday school.

The school sits at the heart of the community and is where the Tamil Association is able to pass on its traditions to younger generations.

Explaining how it came into being, Mr Thiagarajah said: “We were formed almost 13 years ago at the request of the Tamil community in Swindon.

“Our main aim is to celebrate and promote Tamil culture, language and arts. Not only among the Tamil people but also the wider community.

“We started with language classes but now we have dance, music and violin classes held regularly.”

Two young ladies who had started out attending classes in the earliest days of the association returned on Saturday to confidently host the proceedings, in two languages no less.

Both have now gone on to university. Mr Thiagarajah spoke of his pride that the community was producing such talent.