In our series on food for religious festivals, Mridula Baljekar, cook, television presenter and multi-award winning author, introduces us to the Hindu festivals of Diwali, Onam and Holi. In Part 1, Mridula talks us through the meaning and celebration of each festival, the various foods that are eaten and what they represent. In Part 2, she shows us a selection of festival dishes in more detail and demonstrates one or two simple recipes.

Mohsin Abbas, Director of Arts Versa and Ramadan Festival, and Reza Mahammad of Star of India have a fascinating and enlightening discussion about Ramadan, what it represents to the followers of Islam and the thinking behind its discipline. This was the first in Talking of Food's series of films about foods eaten at different religious festivals.

The first of our videos on Jewish festivals looks at Rosh Hashanah. In part 1 Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler of the New West End Synagogue in London introduces Rosh Hashanah and what it means in the Jewish faith. In part 2, Silvia Nacamulli, a well known expert on Italian Jewish food prepares one of her favourite dishes for Rosh Hashanah, "Silvia's Chicken with Pomegranate". In part 3, Sula Leon, cookery teacher and author, prepares "Sula's Apple Filo" one of her favourite dishes for the festival.

Following our series on Rosh Hashanah comes Yom Kippur. Once again, in Part 1, we have an introduction to this holy day from Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler who explains the meaning and practices of Yom Kippur, the "Day of Atonement". In Part 2, Silvia Nacamulli and Sula Leon discuss the foods they prepare for the festive meal and the different ways in which they break the Yom Kippur fast.