Deputy Mayor Duty

Deputy Mayor duties involved a visit to Tiviedale in Sandwell today for the Janmastami Mela Celebration.

This is a colourful Hindu festival celebrating 'the Lord Krishna' . The celebration will attract 7,000 people over the two days it is held. There were funfairs , a cultural fair, an exhibition, classical dance music and drama.

Both Mary and I attended and met other guests including The Mayor of Sandwell, a ranking Indian diplomat, and many of the leaders of the various political parties involved in local governent. We were led into the Temple site by a band of drums and they did make them sound!

It was a nice morning and it was pleasant to see a different cultures displayed in the way this festival set it self out. The Deputy Mayoress bravely took a health test offered by one of the medical teams that were displaying. The good news was that she was declared as being'very fit and healthy'. I declined knowing what the results would be!