Barrow's festival of culture

Last updated 16:25, Monday, 18 May 2009

AN exquisite feast of tastes, smells, songs and traditions from around the world was brought to our doorstep during the weekend’s Festival of Culture.

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The event offered a smorgasbord of cultural experiences representing the 50 different nationalities in our community.

And in Barrow Town Square, to whet the crowd’s appetite, television chefs the Hairy Bikers cooked up a mouth-watering beef stroganoff, served with a generous portion of good humour.

Barrow’s Dave Myers, one half of the Hairy Bikers, said of the festival: “This is so good for the town. The continental market traders say they’re doing well and if you bring stuff to Barrow, people will support it.

“We’re a multicultural town and if we can all get on and have a big party, it’s great for the future of the town.”

In the elaborately-decorated Forum 28, visitors were encouraged to take part as well as watch traditional arts and dance performances.

Jean Burston, who, with her husband Vincent, had travelled from Glossop, in Derbyshire, volunteered to dance on stage with the Annapurna India Dance Company.

“When we were doing it the lady said, ‘This is what it’s all about, people joining in and sharing the culture,’ which is right because unless you try it you don’t know.

“It was a very professional group and a great start to the day.

“I didn’t know there was so many different nationalities in Barrow, that’s why it’s so great to celebrate it.”

Festival organisers Furness Multicultural Community Forum were delighted with the support and positive feedback from visitors.

Chairman Bob Qazi said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic.

“I’m really impressed with the attendance and it shows how committed people are in Barrow. The majority have wanted to get involved.

“One of the key focuses on working with children and youths is to bring different cultures together.”

Stallholder Catherine Dhargalkar, of Bank Terrace, Lindal, was selling hand-beaded and hand-carved necklaces, made by the street children of India.

She teaches English to orphans in Goa and will be heading back soon. She is currently a young women’s community worker for Connexions in Barrow.

She said: “The orphanage rescues children from six months old who have been abandoned on the beaches.

“They start making jewellery from the ages of four and five.

“There are children of six and seven on the beaches who can speak three or four different languages.

“They have to be cute to survive.

“I brought their jewellery here because I wanted to get the children’s culture across.”

Thirteen-year-old Izzie Roberts, from Hempland Avenue, Barrow, said: “It’s good because Barrow is learning all different cultures and getting to know different places.”

Her friend Laura Chalker, of Stainton Drive, Dalton, said: “I think this is a really good idea because it introduces smaller kids to different cultures.”

Leeanne Windmill, 41, of Buxton Street, Barrow, took along her three daughters, Laura, Bethany and Shakira.

She said: “It’s been great fun.

“It’s very entertaining, especially for the children.

“I’ve always been brought up knowing that everyone’s the same, even though there are different cultures, and I want them to see that.”