A POPULAR food festival has returned to Hampshire.

More than 500 people from across the south flocked to Chandler’s Ford on Sunday to try authentic Indian dishes.

The event, held at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church, was organised by the South of England Marathi Pariwar.

Pooja Patwardhan, one of the organisers, said: “The aim of the organisation is to celebrate and share the culture of the western part of India, near Mumbai. It has been very good. We are very fortunate we are living in a community where people respect different cultures.”

Chandler’s Ford resident Fiona Kelly attended the event and said: “It is wonderful that it is in the community and open to everybody. Food is like a universal language.”