Indian pipers to represent town in festival march (From The Bolton News)

Indian pipers to represent town in festival march

9:00am Saturday 4th July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

BOLTON’S rich heritage will be celebrated as part of a procession organised by Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller this weekend.

The procession will take place at 2pm on Sunday along Deansgate in Manchester city centre as part of this year’s Manchester International Festival.

Mill workers, Indian pipers and rap group The Blackout Crew will all represent the town.

Children from Canterbury’s nursery and out of school club in Heaton will also be marching in fancy dress, while Bolton Wanderers mascot Lofty the Lion will be representing the football club.

Bolton Museum has helped organise one of the floats, which will be titled The Last of the Industrial Revolution.

Sam Elliot, from the museum, said: “In Bolton there is a big Barbodhan community. “They all come from one little village in India and a large proportion of the population of the village moved to Bolton to work in the mills.

“It’s a really interesting story.”

Also appearing will be the Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band — a group of Indian musicians who play the bagpipes, which actually originated in India.

In a nod to the Scottish link to the pipes they also wear full Scottish ceremonial dress.

Band leader Ken Naran said: “We have done a lot of events in Bolton and the Manchester International Festival contacted us about taking part in the procession.

“We started the band because in India the pipes are all about peace and harmony, and we wanted to do something to bring kids in off the streets and keep them occupied.”

Bolton rap group The Blackout Crew, who had an international hit with their song Put A Donk On It, have composed a special song to accompany a parade of modified cars. The track has been broken down into layers, with each of five cars playing a layer each.

Producer Tony Sebankis said: “It’s something completely off the wall and different. Everyone’s buzzing about it.”

And in true Bolton fashion, everyone who takes part in the procession will be treated to a Carr’s pastie at the end.

The Manchester International Festival runs until July 19. A variety of events are taking place around the city, including a collaboration between Bury band Elbow and the Halle orchestra.

A fringe festival, Not Part Of, has been organised by Horwich resident Gareth McCann.