MEMBERS of an Indian community in Keighley have showcased their culture to the town.

Families from the Kerala region of South India invited people from across Keighley to a day of art and food.

Many people went along to Central Hall to sample traditional cuisine and watch performances including dance.

The event was organised by Keighley Malayalee Association, which is made with about 50 Kerala families who have come to the town over the past decade.

Many members of the community came the UK to work in the health field, including jobs at Airedale Hospital.

Sojan Mathew, one of the organisers, said there was an “amazing” response to the day, which was the association’s first event of its type for the wider community.

The event, at Central Hall in Alice Street, was opened by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Coun Mike Gibbons.

Mr Mathew said: “There were lots of very good comments. Many people sat and watched performances, and spent most of the day there.

“There was a big exhibition of all our art forms. There were many musical instruments from Kerala. The Lord Mayor was very interested in playing them.”

Mr Mathew said that visitors were interested to learn that curries from Kerala tasted different to those they had sampled at local Indian restaurants.

Mr Mathew said people from Kerala began coming to Keighley about 12 years ago. The association was set up an officially a couple of years afterwards and formally constituted five years ago.

The association regularly holds fundraising and social events, with one recent curry nigh, raising £3,000 for charities.

Members also collect food for the Salvation Army, and volunteer their time for Sue Ryder at Manorlands.

Mr Mathew said: “We’re looking to do more voluntary service. We also support other activities with our culture and arts.”

Keighley Malayalee Association plans a charity night in December, featuring curry and performances.

Kerala, also referred to as Keralam, is a coastal state which was formed in 1956 combining various Malayalam-speaking regions.

The region was a prominent spice exporter from ancient times, and in the 15th century the lucrative trade attracted Portuguese traders and eventually paved the way for the European colonisation of India.

Kerala has witnessed significant emigration of its people, especially to the Gulf states during in the 1970s and 1980s, and its economy depends significantly on money sent back by the large Malayali expatriate community.

Hinduism is practised by more than half of the population, followed by Islam and Christianity.