BOLTON Hindu Forum has said goodbye to Paras Agravat - the man who has helped forge greater community cohesion in the town.

Mr Agravat, 35, stood down as the Forum’s project development officer yesterday to start a new job as a business development manager.

One of the first things he did when he took up the position in 2015 was to write a new constitution which has helped the Forum to flourish.

“I was keen to create more cohesion within the communities of the borough and to make sure the Hindu community got involved with the wider ‘family’ of Bolton,” he said.

Mr Agravat said he is pleased at the way Hindiu clebrations, such as Diwali, now play a part in the wider life of the town.

Mr Agravat is also proud of the success of Bolton Hindu Forum’s four annual sports melas, which are now the largest in the country.

The family event sees hundreds of people of all ages taking part in a variety of sporting events, including football, rounders, netball, badminton and table tennis.There are also opportunities for people to try their hand at a number of traditional Indian indoor and outdoor games

Mr Agravat said: “We try to promote sports which are culturally significant to us and maintain that by teaching the younger generation.

“The main idea behind it, though, is to get everyone together and there is no better way to do that than through sport.”

The Forum also provides weekly sports, dance and fitness sessions for all ages across Bolton.

Through Mr Agravat’s efforts, the Forum has raised significant amounts for The Royal Bolton Hospital and Bolton Hospice, and raised awareness about the importance of organ, bone marrow and blood donation within black and ethnic minority groups.

Mr Agravat said he felt honoured by the opportunity to represent the Hindu community at all levels in the town.

“I’m very grateful to Bolton’s Hindus and all those from the wider Bolton family for all their help and support in making the town a better place to live. It has been a very positive four years.”