Tooting's large Hindu community is celebrating one of its most important and colourful religious festivals, Durga Puja, and this year there is the chance for everyone to get an authentic flavour of Indian culture at a new free festival.

For Hindus, Durga Puja marks the triumph of the goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasur good over evil.

This year a group of Bengalis living in London have got together to host a new festival called London Sharad Utsav (London Autumn Festival) which aims to bring together people from all London communities in a celebration of Indian culture.

The four-day festival in Ealing Town Hall starts on Friday and ranges from popular Bengali rock band the Fossils, flying in specially for their first UK performance, to world-class sitar music, puppetry and dance, plus food and fashion festivals.

The religious celebration will centre on a unique carving of Durga created in Kolkata by a famous craftsman.

The free festival is expected to attract thousands of people from across London and will help raise money for the charity Calcutta Rescue, which helps the poorest people living in the slums of Kolkata.

For full information on the London Sharad Utsav go to Londonsu.org and information about Calcutta Rescue go to calcuttarescue.org.uk