TINY tots were given a taste of Indian festival Diwali during a special event at Bournemouth Day Nursery.

They celebrated the Festival of Light by making lanterns and enjoying a selection of mouth-watering dishes A whole day was dedicated to the ancient festival as millions of Hindus across the world celebrated.

Parent Vijipriya Arunsankor allowed children to join him in a chapattis cooking demonstration and nursery chef Andy Daysh laid on lamb and vegetable koftas with rainbow basmati for lunch.

Nursery owner, Natalie Steele, said: “The children had a wonderful time learning all about Diwali and Indian culture.

“It’s a beautiful festival for them to embrace with its colour, light and delicious tasting food – it’s something children really enjoy and find quite magical.

“By marking an occasion like Diwali we can introduce healthy eating and learning about other cultures in a way that is fun and memorable.”

Staff at the Bournemouth Day Nursery also enthusiastically got into the spirit of the day by wearing stunning saris.

Other activities for the children included making ‘lalterns’ – Indian lanterns – and ‘torans,’ which are Indian wall hangings.

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus every autumn and the festival signifies the victory of light over darkness.

Festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five day period with the main festival night coinciding with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika.