DANCERS, singers and other performers lit up the stage in vibrant costumes as they celebrated Diwali.

The Swindon Tamil Association hosted an extravaganza to mark the festival, observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, which celebrates the victory of light over darkness and of love over evil.

A cast of two adults and about 25 children, aged from four to 14, entertained more than 100 people at New College’s Phoenix Theatre with dancing, music and drama.

“The community spirit on the whole was excellent, I think the performers enjoyed themselves very much,” said Ram Thiagarajah, the president of the association.

“They had seen glimpses of the show during rehearsals but they hadn’t seen the whole thing, so when they saw it, it was spectacular.

“What was great about it was that people worked together to put on this show. They did everything and they did an excellent job in selecting a wide range of dances.”

The celebration, which took place from 5.30pm to 9pm on Saturday, started with a firework display on the grass outside the college.

Families and guests then went into the theatre where Swindon Mayor Rex Barnett turned on several electric lamps to officially start the show.

All the performers were dressed in colourful, heavily decorated, traditional Tamil clothes, and the girls also wore jewellery, head dresses, bells and flowers.

One of the highlights of the evening was a performance by the children of the Ramayana, a play telling the story of Lord Rama and his wife Sita.

Thulakshia Vakeeson, 15, of Lawn, who was the director and the narrator, said: “It was pretty exciting and the costumes were really nice as well.

“The best part of taking part was probably the praise at the end, it reflects on all the good work you’ve put into it.”

Rudram Ratnanandan, nine, of Liden, who played the karnatic violin, sang and took part in the Ramayana, said: “It went very well. “I was not very nervous but a bit nervous.”

The celebration, which also saw Coun Barnett present awards to the winners of the association’s sports day in August, ended with an Indian banquet in the college canteen.