A POPULAR yoga festival is returning to Basingstoke this weekend.

Free Family Yoga Festival will be held at Basingstoke's War Memorial Park on Saturday, July 16.

Festival organisers are expecting thousands of people to attend for the live music, meditation, free face painting, henna tattoos and yoga tents, and the free hot vegetarian feast.

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A Rathayatra will also be held as part of the event. It is a Hindu festival, observed by taking an image of a deity in a procession (Yatra) through the streets in a chariot (Ratha).

The festival originates in ancient India in Orissa, which occurs every year, celebrated by millions of participants annually.

Basingstoke's first Rathayatra festival was held in 2018.

A festival spokesperson said: “We are creating legacy projects across the UK, inspiring people to come together to cultivate and grow their own food, for a sustainable future.

“This international festival of peace and light, unity in diversity, is currently celebrated in over 450 cities around the world, including New York, San Francisco, Durban, Paris, London and Tokyo.”

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The free vegetarian feast will be served to all who attend, at 2pm in the Food Tent.

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