People from all cultures and backgrounds are invited to mark the birth of Krishna at the Janmashtami Festival.

The event will be held at Bhaktivedanta Manor Krishna Temple in Aldenham, on Friday, August 10 until Sunday, August 12.

The festival, which is the largest Hindu gathering outside India, will provide a colourful taste of the mystic country with live stage shows, vibrant costumes, enchanting music, meditation and exotic food set in a picturesque setting with a lake and an ancient woodland.

The event will feature thousands of children with their faces painted blue, many carrying flutes and wearing peacock feathers in their hair, dressing like Krishna as part of the festive spirit.

Another highlight will include a flowered walkway through the spiritual gardens.

Visitors will journey through the life and pastimes of Krishna, climaxing with a glimpse of the spectacular deity decorated with thousands of flowers.

The entire festival is managed and run by 1500 volunteers from the community who gather every evening after work for a month prior to the event and put in countless hours of work for the occasion. The temple kitchens will be working 24 hours a day to prepare free vegetarian meals of everyone who comes the festival .

"It is an ancient tradition to serve food to all who come to Bhaktivedanta Manor," said Ajay Kumar, the festival coordinator. "We hope that the efforts of 1500 volunteers over many months will make everyone's visit memorable."