Clocks have changed!
Trafalgar Day
Edinburgh Leisure free classes
Dusherra
Halloween event
Remember that whatever time you have woken up it may actually be an hour earlier, giving you the chance to have a really long lie. This weekend is 49 hours long…..Spring forward, Fall back…..
Best to check with the TV or radio or your phone!
This week the council and the Royal Navy marked Trafalgar Day at the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill.
The Scottish Indian Arts Forum presents Dusherra 2015, the largest celebration of the Indian community in Scotland later today. In the 21 years since it began thousands of people from all over Scotland and Northern England have participated in our events and festivals.
Dusherra the flagship event of the Scottish Indian Arts Forum will be held later today on top of Calton Hill in Edinburgh.
Dusherra, one of the largest festivals in India, commemorates a 10 day war between the gods and demons thousands of years ago. It is celebrated with gusto by communities with music, dance, food and a symbolic burning of the Effigies of the demons to celebrate the victory of good over evil.
Dusherrra’ s cultural programme features a mixture of Scottish and Indian music and dance. This year we have a focus on South Indian Classsical Music and Dance. For the first time ever we have a Carnatic Music performance by Rekha MacKay along with a Bharatnatyam classical dance performance by Radha Krishnan from the famed Kalakshetra school. The popular pipes and fiddle performers of Scott Wood Band will be headlining the festival at 5:15 pm with lively Scottish folk music. We also have performances by Twisted Tails, the tribal belly dancing group as well as Bhartiya Ashram, Dundee performing Bollywood and Fusion dance.
A spokesman said: “We are pleased to have a dedicated children’s marquee with arts and crafts workshop led by visual artist Natalie Taylor from 2.30-5 pm. With mask making, story telling, interactive craft activities we aim to get Scotland’s children to understand different cultures right from a young age. This years Children’s activities have been put together in consultation with and the support of the Scottish Government. More than 200 children participated in last years’ activities.
“The event culminates in the burning of effigies and the fireworks. Built by the inmates of HM Prison in Saughton, these 25 ft wooden structures are an important activity for the prison in teaching inmates key life skills such as carpentry and decorating. Increasingly these are critical activities for inmates to contribute to the community that they live in and simultaneously build up their own self confidence.”
Food stalls are provided by Kama Sutra Restaurant of Edinburgh as well as Bananaleaf of Glasgow.
The spokesman continued: “Scottish Indian Arts Forum is very thankful to Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) for sponsoring the event for the second year in a row. TCS will also have stalls at the event to showcase their Corporate Social Responsibility and Skills Development Initiatives. We are delighted with the continued support of The City of Edinburgh Council and are thankful to all its staff that support us in the event.
“Our supporters and sponsors ensure that we maintain Dusherra as a free festival year on year.”
Karthik Subramanya, President of Scottish Indian Arts Forum said: “The Dusherra Festival in Edinburgh is the largest celebration of the Indian Community in Scotland. We aim to unite people through a greater understanding of each others’ music, culture, food and dance.”
One for Halloween…..
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