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Sarita McDermott and her talented team of dancers will provide a taste of Indian culture in Ripon on Monday evening (March 18).
Ripon Library is the venue and all are welcome to attend from 5pm to both watch and join in 11 traditional dances that will celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi.
To round off the evening, attendees are invited to sample, free of charge, some genuine Indian cuisine.
Ms McDermott (pictured above) who owns Realitea Indian bistro and tearoom on North Street has, through performances that focus on the Holi and Diwali festivals, given Ripon residents an insight into the the culture of her native country
She told the Stray Ferret:
“Holi signals the arrival of spring — focusing on love, new life and reconciliation. It’s all about making a fresh start, forgiving and forgetting, loving and looking forward, as we leave the cold winter weather behind us and enjoy the spring and sunshine.”
Part of the Holi Festival celebrations involve coating people with brightly-coloured powder paint. Picture: BBC
On Monday, Lisa Fletcher, who works at Ripon’s Walled Garden, will have her debut Holi dance, alongside Martin Grainger, who works at Reality and Bethany and Matthew Evason, who are employed at Jennyruth Workshops,
Main picture: The team led by Sarita McDermott performing at Holi Dance at last year’s event in Ripon Library. Picture Sarita McDermott
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Ripon’s children invited to take part in free summer activities
For the third successive year, Ripon Together and its partners have arranged a programme of free activities for young people this summer.
The four-day Funfest starts on Monday August 14 and offers something for everyone at locations across the city and at Studley Royal Cricket Club.
Activities range from storytelling to juggling, mindfulness and formal sports coaching in cricket and football.
While the events are free, those planning to attend need to book for many of them and further details can be obtained by clicking here
At Studley Royal Cricket Club on Monday, August 14, there will be relay races and an obstacle course, alongside coaching from Ripon Runners and cricket coaching.
On the same day, Ripon Library will have a smoothie bike in place, so that people can use pedal power to make their own healthy drinks. There will also be stories and games for young children, followed by a film evening for teenagers.
On Tuesday, August 15, in addition to the cricket and athletics at Studley Royal, Ripon Spa Croquet Club will also be running a come and play session.
Spa Park is the venue for August 16, where there will be football coaching, circus skills training and crazy golf.
The Funfest finale will be staged Studley Royal Cricket Club on Thursday August 17 with a large inflatable obstacle course in place, sumo wrestling and croquet.
Inspire Youth will be providing mindfulness, table tennis, football penalties and other activities. There will also be free food.
David Ingham, a director of Ripon Together, said:
“We are massively grateful to our local councillors, Morrisons, The Jepson Trust and Ripon Girls Club for our funding. The programme is also a great example of how Ripon Together can bring the community together to deliver for the city.
“Studley Royal Cricket Club, Ripon Spa Croquet Club, YMCA and others have been so supportive in delivering this programme for the children of our city.”
The winning entry in a new competition introduced in honour of the late Daphne Peters, was announced at the landmark 950th meeting of Ripon Writers’ Group.
The group was set up more than 40 years ago by the internationally-famous children’s author and poet, whose work was published under her maiden name Daphne Lister
Group secretary and former chair, Maggie Cobbett, told the Stray Ferret:
“As we reached another milestone, it seemed a fitting occasion to announce the first winner of our Writing for Children competition, inaugurated in memory of Daphne.”
She added:
“Our adjudicator was Claire Thompson, outreach librarian for Ripon and Pateley Bridge, who has a special interest in children’s literature and literacy, who said that she had thoroughly enjoyed reading the entries.
“The pieces submitted had been so diverse that it had been difficult to compare them, but she selected Ros Swaney’s Dusty the Cupboard Monster as the winner, with second place going to Pip’s Story by Ella Benigno and St Wilfrid written by Peter Page in third.”
Last week’s meeting was also the final one for writers’ group chair and award-winning author Ian Gouge, before he and his family move to Lincolnshire and attendees thanked him for his significant input to the group’s programme.
Ripon residents can sample some of the best of what the city has to offer for free on Saturday.
The annual Sights and Sounds of Ripon event provides the opportunity for local residents to visit the workhouse, courthouse and prison and police museums without charge.
To gain free entry, all that is required is a proof of residence within the HG4 postcode.
In addition to the city’s three heritage attractions, family-friendly activities are also being staged from 11am at Ripon Cathedral and the library.
The event is being organised by Harrogate Borough Council as part of the Ripon My Neighbourhood partnership which involves a wide range of public and voluntary organisations.
Further details are available here.
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