A community centre in Basingstoke marked its 60th anniversary with a vibrant celebration, organised by the Basingstoke Hindu Society (BHS).
Carnival Hall in Council Hall celebrated the anniversary at Mays Bounty cricket ground on Saturday, September 14 by bringing together members from across the community, reflecting the hall’s longstanding role as a centre for cultural, social, and charitable activities.
The festivities were inaugurated by several prominent figures, including Basingstoke Mayor Dan Putty, council leader Paul Harvey, councillors Laura James and Arun Mummalaneni, Kikoi Connection chair Effie Blankson, and chief inspector and Basingstoke district commander Scott Johnson.
Basingstoke MP Luke Murphy concluded the event by attending the fun fare.
The celebration was full of activities and entertainment, including stalls offering children’s games by Flower Dreams UK and Art Dubba, delicious food from Amee's Kitchen and Homely Food, and traditional face painting and Mehndi.
Attendees enjoyed various cultural performances, like dances by Rudra, Laxmi, and Ananya, an Irish dance, and a captivating Caribbean music and drumming performance by Ndi Igbo Basingstoke.
The highlight of the day came with a group performance by JD Dance and live music.
Throughout the event, BHS supported three local charities—St. Michael’s Hospice, Basingstoke Women’s Rape Crisis, and the Mayor’s Charity.
The history of Carnival Hall dates back to the efforts of the Carnival Committee (1956-1963), which raised funds to build the community hub in 1964 on the site of the old school kitchens, across from Fairfield School.
Following a major refurbishment by the council in 2004, Carnival Hall has been managed by the Basingstoke Hindu Society—previously called the Indian Association and founded by Kishore Luthra.
Under the leadership of BHS’s first chairman, the late Ratilal Padhiar, and its current chair, Prashant Shirode, the hall has become one of the busiest community centres in Basingstoke.
Carnival Hall has long served as a venue for a wide range of activities, from martial arts and dance classes to religious and cultural events. It also hosted Basingstoke's first Hindu Election Hustings highlights ahead of the general election.
The hall also is home to Turkish, Nepalese, and Indian communities and dance and fitness clubs like JG Dance and Karate Kickboxing.
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BHS is planning to continue its work in making Carnival Hall a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable community space.
Planned initiatives include hosting fitness and wellness activities like yoga and mental health sessions, promoting local entrepreneurs, and supporting charitable causes.
The society is also focused on enhancing senior engagement with events like bingo nights and low-impact exercise classes, and it aims to increase civic engagement by hosting town hall meetings and public consultations.
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