A Bengali new year celebration in King’s Cross dished up colourful dances and spicy food to 250 guests including some of the borough’s political elite.

Islington Gazette: Children dance at the North London Probhati Sangha's Bengali New Year celebration (Picture: Jahar Shil/NLPS)Children dance at the North London Probhati Sangha's Bengali New Year celebration (Picture: Jahar Shil/NLPS) (Image: Archant)

Islington’s fourth annual “Boishakhi Mela” festival was held at the Hugh Cubitt Community Centre in Collier Street on Sunday. Visitors included Emily Thornberry MP and Islington councillors Jilani Chowdhury (Barnsbury, Lab) and Gary Doolan (St Peter’s, Lab).

The organisation behind it is the North London Prabhati Sangha, which celebrates festivals originating in the Indian subcontinent for the benefit of the borough’s 20,000-strong Asian population.

Cultural secretary Jahar Shil said: “Islington is rich in diverse culture and we want to be part of that richness and stand out with pride.”

Kids learning dance and music at the centre performed “baul” folk music for the guests, who also enjoyed modern Bollywood dance.

“Lastly,” said Mr Shil, “hot chicken biryani and samosas were served, as food is a major part of the Boishakhi festival.”