Over the nine nights of Navratri, Hindus across West Yorkshire will be getting together in Rhodesway School at the Chellowdene site to take part in traditional dancing round the altar to the Mother Goddesses in the middle of the hall.

Navratri has traditionally been seen as a women's and childrens festival where people dress in their best clothes, but recently men have become more involved in the occasion and it has become a great social occasion in the Hindu calender. The celebrations in Bradford are expected to be the biggest in West Yorkshire with 1,000-2,000 people expected.

Navratri is devoted to the worship of Shakti or Divine Mother. It is divided into three parts. The first three nights are dedicated to the goddess of action and energy. Her different manifestations Kumari, Parvati and Kali are all worshipped during these days. The days four to six worship Lakshmi the Goddesses of peace and bliss. Saraswati is worshipped during the final three days. She is the goddess of spiritual knowledge.

In Bradford the evening starts at 8pm. There will be traditional dances which start slow and get faster and faster. At 10pm the Aarti will be said, a prayer offering homage to the Mother Goddess.

Meanwhile last night in Bradford the Diwali lights were switched by the Lord Mayor. Diwali is the most recognised and celebrated festival in the Hindu calendar and in Bradford over 200 worshippers gathered in Centenary Square for the occasion.