THE head of an Indian royal household is coming to the region for a celebration of ethnic diversity.
His Highness Sri Srikanta Datta Wadiyar, the Maharajah of Mysore, in India, will be the guest of honour at the annual Ganesha Festival.
The event, at the Lamplight Arts Centre in Stanley, County Durham, aims to celebrate minority cultures and end prejudice by working with children from local schools.
It is organised by Kalapremi, a charity set up to promote racial harmony.
Dr Satya Nath, of Kalapremi, which has run the Ganesha event for 11 years, said: "The festival is a place where Hindus from across the North-East can come together. But more importantly, it should also help promote an understanding between cultures, especially between schoolchildren.
"We want them to mix with each other and know each other's cultures."
The festival, starts at 11am next Saturday, with the Pooja, a time for prayer and worship to the Hindu gods. This will be followed by a Preeti Bhojan, or vegetarian meal, at 1pm.
The cultural programme runs from 2pm to 5pm and includes Indian dancing, a display of Chinese arts, a play and a fashion show displaying the Maharajah's royal silks from Mysore Palace.
Derwentside-based Busy Ape Arts will be running a workshop on shadow puppets for youngsters and the festival will close with a display from the children, at 4.45pm
Tickets are £10, or £5 for concessions, and are available from the Lamplight box office on (01207) 218899.
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