Shree Swaminarayan is set to celebrate its first Janmashtami at its new location today.

The Hindu temple, located on Copster Hill Road, recently opened after the community raised £7 million for its creation.

Now the temple is set to mark the Janmashtami – which celebrates the birth of Krishna, a Hindu god who is the eighth avatar, or incarnation, of Vishnu.

Celebrations can include dance, enactments of Krishna’s life, and singing – as well as prayer and fasting.

The event is celebrated by Hindus across the world, including in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

Anil Kara works with the Oldham temple.

Speaking to The Oldham Times, Anil said: “It’s probably a celebration that’s celebrated by every single sect – in Hinduism there are so many different branches.

“Janmashtami is celebrated across the world in every single Hindu temple in various styles and various levels of grandeur.

“Within our temple, all our celebrations will start in the evening – around half six we’ll have a little sermon, we’ll explain the story about Krishna and how he was born.

“We’ll then have an Aarti, blessing the idol and showering praise on Krishna.”

The Temple’s youth group will also be getting involved.

Anil added: “Some years we’ll do little plays, sometimes we’ll do a re-enactment.

“Krishna had a fondness for curd and yoghurt, so we raise a ‘matki’ and smash it – but instead of having yoghurt and curd, we’ll have other stuff like sweets, which the kids will run after.

“Sometimes we’ll build a pyramid to it to try to get to it and rip it down.”

Traditional dancing will also take place alongside music – and the temple is expecting a big turnout, as it’s the first celebration of the event in the new building.

Main celebrations will take place today (August 19).

Celebrations take place annually, starting at midnight on the eighth day of the month of Bhadra in the Hindu calendar, when Krishna was believed to be born.

Celebrations take place over 48 hours, with food made from milk and curds served, as this was said to be favoured by Krishna. Song and dance is also used to celebrate the occasion.

Celebrations at Shree Swaminarayan Temple start at 6pm today.